Name: Territory of Norfolk Island
Capital: Kingston
Continent: Oceania
Official languages: English, Norfuk
Religion: Christianity (Protestantism, Catholicism)
Motto: Inasmuch
Status: External Territory
Sovereign state: Australia
Population: 1 748 (2016)
Demonym: Norfolk Islander
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Drives on the left/right
Time zone: UTC +11:00
Calling code: +672
Internet TLD: .nf
Neighbouring countries: None
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, 1,412 km directly east of mainland Australia's Evans Head, and about 900 km from Lord Howe Island. Together with the two neighbouring islands Phillip Island and Nepean Island, it forms one of the Commonwealth of Australia's external territories. At the 2016 Australian census, it had 1748 inhabitants living on a total area of about 35 square km. Its capital is Kingston.
The first settlers in Norfolk Island were East Polynesians. They were long gone when Great Britain settled the island as part of its 1788 settlement of Australia.
Norfolk island served as a convict penal settlement from 6 March 1788 until 5 May 1855, except for an 11-year hiatus between 15 February 1814 and 6 June 1825, when it lay abandoned. On 8 June 1856 permanent civilian residence on the island began when it was settled from Pitcairn Island.
In 1914 the UK handed Norfolk Island over to Australia to administer as an external territory.
The evergreen Norfolk Island pine is a symbol of the island and is pictured on its flag. Native to the island, the pine is a key export for Norfolk Island, being a popular ornamental tree on mainland Australia, and worldwide.
'Come Ye Blessed', composed by John Prindle Scott, is the territorial song of Norfolk Island, and it is sung at most island events. It is also the official territorial song of the Pitcairn Islands. 'God Save the Queen' is Norfolk Island's official national and royal anthem.
