The ‘fame’ of the sloop Norfolk mostly emerges from its association with the voyages of Matthew Flinders, especially the circumnavigation of Tasmania with George Bass. Although perhaps the ship more famously associated with Flinders is the HMS Investigator in which he completed the circumnavigation of Australia.
1798 - Built illegally on Norfolk Island, by order of Captain John Townson. Probably using the longboat of the First Fleet ship HMS Sirius as a template. The Sirius was wrecked at Norfolk Island in 1790.
It was the first sea-faring ship built on Norfolk Island, a small settlement located 1,673 km from Sydney. As Norfolk Island’s population included convicts, the shipbuilding project was in blatant disregard of a command issued by Governor John Hunter. However, low supplies and disgruntled settlers convinced the Island’s new Lieutenant-Governor, Captain John Townson, to approve the project. Constructed from local Norfolk Pine, the small one-masted sloop successfully arrived in Sydney Cove in June 1798. (Maritime Museums Australia)
For further information about the pressures that led to the construction of the Norfolk see this useful discussion at Discover Norfolk.
June 1798 - Arrived in Sydney Cove, and was immediately confiscated by Governor Hunter and then given to Flinders for exploratory purposes. Flinders used it for two mapping voyages, the circumnavigation of Tasmania and an exploratory trip to Moreton Bay.
1798 - Jan 1799 Used by Bass and Flinders to circumnavigate Tasmania. This is a strongly celebrated event and inspired a reenactment and an Australian 50 cent piece for the 1998 bicentennial of the event.
July 1799 - Flinders, with has aboriginal friend and guide Bungaree, were sent to chart the waters between Moreton Bay and Hervey Bay. A transcribed version of his journal for this voyage can be found at The State Library of New South Wales website. However this story is not the whole story.
After Flinders had used the Norfolk for his explorations it was put into service as a goods transport vessel between the Hawkesbury River settlements and Sydney Town.
1800 - Captured by fifteen escaped convicts (pirates) at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River it was subsequently wrecked at what is now called Pirate Point, Newcastle. Of the fifteen convicts involved, two were executed, seven were sentenced to transportation to Norfolk Island and the remaining six escaped. Probably finding refuge with aboriginal people.
Of the fifteen convicts who wrecked the small sloop on Pirates’ Point (Stockton Peninsula), seven were ironically sent to Norfolk Island as punishment. The very place the ship had illegally been built! Made in secret, confiscated, stolen and finally wrecked, the little sloop Norfolk had a short, but important story. (Australian Maritime Museums)
A fuller and excellent discussion of this pirate event on Australian shores can be found that the blog Free Settler or Felon.
