Historic Norfolk Is.

A Rambler's Guide To

Considering that Norfolk Island was the first South ea island to be permanently settled by Europeans, and - except for one period of 11 years—has been occupied ver since, it is surprising that never before has it been ic subject of a comprehensive guide book.

>UT the gap has now been filled by Merval Hoare’s Rambler’s 'aide to Norfolk Island, which takes te historic island road by road, ill by hill, and ruin by ruin, and reathes warmth and colour into its istory for the benefit of visitors, :sidents and ramblers-in-general.

Norfolk’s growing number of sitors—there were 4,000 of them st year, each staying an average 10 days—will presumably put e Guide to best use. Despite its ven maps, it is still small enough be stuffed into pocket or purse.

Mrs. Hoare is a New Zealander ho has lived on Norfolk now for any years, during which time she is become fascinated by the island’s story.

Discovered by Cook in 1774, ttled from Botany Bay in 1788 ly a few weeks after the foundation Australia, Norfolk has had a rbulent history of two convict set ments followed by the arrival, in 56, of the Pitcairners who are still ‘ basis of the population today.

Stark reminders of the convict riod are to be seen in the ruins of i gaols, houses and bridges, A mber of buildings are still in isonable repair and these are some the finest examples of early ;hitecture to be found in Aus lia (for Norfolk, although 900 les north-east of Sydney, is still istralian territory). the many reminders of the unty mutineers is the Olde glishe speech of many of today’s rfolk residents.

Mrs. Hoare’s painstaking research, ipled with her regard for accuracy, i resulted in her having to label myths two of the best-known nes of Norfolk Island—the story Barney Duffy’s tree and the story Bloody Bridge. But one suspects t she was reluctant to do it and t she hopes, even now, that facts y come to light which will re ive these colourful tales in a Jre edition of her valuable and dable Guide.

Guide To Norfolk

AND. Pacific Publications Ltd. Sydney.

One of the attractive coastal scenes on Norfolk Island.