Record Quest

For Land On

Norfork Island

From Merval Hoare, on Norfolk Island In the last 12 months the number of land transactions on Norfolk Island have constituted a record for the 107 years since the heads of the Pitcairn families received their 50 acre grants in 1859. There were more than 200 transactions recorded be tween this February and January of last year.

RECENT publicity overseas has brought a number of new settlers to the island, many of whom have acquired property. Some parts of the island, especially the Middle gate extension off Queen Elizabeth Avenue and the area around Burnt Pine, have been extensively sub divided.

The Middlegate sub-division, being Crown land, is taken up under lease and this is granted subject to certain improvements being carried out within a stated period, usually two years.

The conversion of leased land to freehold, which was first mooted about three years ago, has been looked forward to by a number of residents, but the necessary legisla tion has not yet been passed. It is understood that leaseholders will have the option of buying from the Gov ernment or continuing to lease their land.

With the prospect of the con version of leased land to freehold, blocks in the Middlegate area were snapped up by interested persons, and houses appeared on some of the sections within a matter of months.

As the situation could have led to some land speculation the Norfolk Island Council last August took steps to ensure that there would be no trading in Crown leases.

Around Burnt Pine, which is the business centre of the island, land is mainly freehold and, consequently, has been much in demand. Many properties have changed hands and land there is about the most expensive on the island. Even the smallest section would cost around $1,500.

For some years the Norfolk Island Administration employed a Govern ment surveyor but for the past three years the island has had no resident surveyor. However, a firm of New Zealand surveyors sends qualified men over from time to time and they are kept very busy during their visits.

The island’s five land agents, like the visiting surveyors, are also kept busy. Land agents are not at present required to register before going into business on Norfolk, but, no doubt, as prosperity speeds up, legislation affecting them will be introduced.

Fortunately the Government has reserved a fair amount of land for various purposes so there is no danger of the island’s forests and natural scenic areas being replaced by a mushroom growth of new buildings.

Thanks to the giant pines growing every where, Norfolk island is unlike the typical island of the South Seas. Visitors from Australia and New Zealand have now "discovered" it.