New Norfolk

New Norfolk
Tasmania
New Norfolk's Blair Street Bridge and River Derwent in autumn, 2012
New Norfolk is located in Tasmania
New Norfolk
New Norfolk
Coordinates42°46′58″S 147°03′34″E / 42.78278°S 147.05944°E / -42.78278; 147.05944
Population6,153 (2021 census)[1]
Established1807
Postcode(s)7140
Location
LGA(s)Derwent Valley Council
State electorate(s)Lyons
Federal division(s)Lyons
Mean max temp[2] Mean min temp[2] Annual rainfall[2]
17.3 °C
63 °F
6.6 °C
44 °F
551.1 mm
21.7 in

New Norfolk (/njˈnɔːfək/ nyoo-NOR-fək;[3] Leenowwenne/palawa kani: wulawali)[4] is a riverside town located on the River Derwent in southeastern Tasmania, Australia. Established in 1807, it is Tasmania’s fourth-oldest European settlement and ranks as the twelfth oldest in Australia. Initially founded by evacuees from Norfolk Island,[5][6] New Norfolk has a population of 6,153 as of 2021 and serves as the main township of the Derwent Valley region.[1] It lies 32 kilometres (20 mi) northwest of Hobart, along the Lyell Highway, and is encompassed within the Greater Hobart statistical area.[7]

Historically, New Norfolk’s economy has been shaped by agriculture, especially hop farming, and the timber industry. The Boyer Mill, a major paper producer, is now the sole manufacturer of newsprint, magazine, and book paper in Australia.[8] Recent years have seen significant development in the area, including the $500 million residential and community project, The Mills.[9][10][11]

Tourism has also grown as a key industry, with visitors attracted to the town's natural beauty and colonial heritage. Notable landmarks include St. Matthews Anglican Church, Tasmania’s oldest,[12] and The Bush Inn, one of Australia’s oldest continuously operating hotels.[13] Nearby attractions include the Salmon Ponds, established in 1861, which is the oldest trout hatchery in the southern hemisphere.[14][15]

In August 2024, shipbuilder Incat announced plans to expand to a new site in Boyer to build battery-electric ferries, including the world’s largest electric ferry. This project is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs over the next decade, with construction beginning in 2026.[16]

  1. ^ a b "2021 New Norfolk, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference BoM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cox, Felicity; Fletcher, Janet (2017). Australian English Pronunciation and Transcription. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781316639269.
  4. ^ "Willow Court Precinct Heritage Interpretation Plan" (PDF). Derwent Valley Council. p. 3. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  5. ^ "New Norfolk". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2004. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Old New Norfolk". The Mercury. Vol. XCIV, no. 12, 608. Tasmania, Australia. 20 August 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 30 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "2021 Greater Hobart, Census All persons QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Federal funds delivered for Boyer upgrades". New Norfolk and Derwent Valley News. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  9. ^ Page, Hannah (27 June 2021). "$500m The Mills start spinning". Australian Property Journal. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  10. ^ Barnett, Guy (28 July 2022). "$500 million project a major boost for State's housing stock". Premier of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  11. ^ Andrewartha, John (27 February 2023). "The Mills delayed but not deterred". New Norfolk and Derwent Valley News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  12. ^ Australian Broadcasting Commission (1939), "v. : ill. ; 29cm.", Century-old St. Matthew's Church, New Norfolk, Sydney: ABC Weekly, p. 37, nla.obj-1317028368, retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Trove
  13. ^ "Bush Inn holds title of Australia's oldest pub". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  14. ^ "Introduction of Salmon". Launceston Examiner. Vol. XX, no. 2260 and 67. Tasmania, Australia. 5 June 1860. p. 3 (Afternoon). Retrieved 30 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "History". Salmon Ponds. 19 January 2017. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ Williams, Abby (29 August 2024). "Incat acquires site for new shipbuilding facility". Daily Cargo News. Retrieved 7 September 2024.