The territory was originally inhabited by East Polynesians, though by the time the Europeans got there, they had abandoned the island. The British eventually settled the island in 1788 due to New Zealand flax growing there and Empress Catherine II of Russia's decision to restrict sales of hemp (Which you probably know as Marijuana), with the British requiring flax and hemp for the production of cordage and sailcloth. Like Australia itself, Norfolk Island was also a penal settlement of the British until the 6th of June, 1825. The island didn't get a permanent settlement until descendants of HMS Bounty mutineers and Tahitians from the Pitcairn Islands arrived in the 8th of June, 1856, though, and the British later handed the island to Australia in 1914, with the island becoming a key airbase and refueling depot between Australia and New Zealand in World War II.
The Norfolk Islander flag
The British national anthem
The Norfolk Islander territorial anthem
Government
- Devolved locally governing dependency
- Monarch: Charles III
- Governor-General: David Hurley
- Administrator: Eric Hutchinson
Miscellaneous
- Capital: Kingston
- Largest city: Burnt Pine
- Population: 1,748
- Area: 34.6 km² (13.4 sq mi)
- Currency: Australian dollar ($) (AUD)
- ISO-3166-1 Code: NF
