page_title: Norfolk Island
section_title: 20th century
hierarchical_section_title: Norfolk Island / History / Settlement by Pitcairn Islanders (1856–present) / 20th century
caption_attribution_description: English: cropped from own photo of page in "Territory of Norfolk Island. Consolidated Laws. Being the Norfolk Island Act 1913 ... and Ordinances ... as in Force on 31st December, 1934; Canberra, Commonwealth Government Printer for Prime Minister's Department, n.d.; page 351
context_page_description: Norfolk Island is an Australian external territory located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, 1,412 kilometres directly east of mainland Australia's Evans Head and about 900 kilometres from Lord Howe Island. Together with the neighbouring Phillip Island and Nepean Island, the three islands collectively form the Territory of Norfolk Island. At the 2016 Australian census, it had 1748 inhabitants living on a total area of about 35 km². Its capital is Kingston.
  The first known settlers in Norfolk Island were East Polynesians but they were long gone when Great Britain settled it as part of its 1788 settlement of Australia. The 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 descendents of the Bounty mutineers were relocated from Pitcairn Island. In 1914 the UK handed Norfolk Island over to Australia to administer as an external territory.
  Native to the island, the evergreen Norfolk Island pine is a symbol of the island and is pictured on its flag.
context_section_description: The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia accepted the territory by the Norfolk Island Act 1913 (Cth), subject to British agreement; the Act received the assent on 19 December 1913. In preparation for the handover, a proclamation by the Governor of New South Wales on 23 December 1913 (in force when gazetted on 24 December) repealed "all laws heretofore in force in Norfolk Island" and replaced them by re-enacting a list of such laws. Among those laws was the Administration Law 1913 (NSW), which provided for appointment of an Administrator of Norfolk Island and of magistrates, and contained a code of criminal law.
  British agreement was expressed on 30 March 1914, in a UK Order in Council made pursuant to the Australian Waste Lands Act 1855 (Imp). A proclamation by the Governor-General of Australia on 17 June 1914 gave effect to the Act and the Order as from 1 July 1914.
  During World War II, the island became a key airbase and refuelling depot between Australia and New Zealand, and New Zealand and the Solomon Islands. The airstrip was constructed by Australian, New Zealand and the United States servicemen during 1942. Since Norfolk Island fell within New Zealand's area of responsibility, it was garrisoned by a New Zealand Army unit known as N Force at a large Army camp which had the capacity to house a 1500 strong force. N Force relieved a company of the Second Australian Imperial Force. The island proved too remote to come under attack during the war and N Force left the island in February 1944.
  In 1979, Norfolk Island was granted limited self-government by Australia, under which the island elected a government that ran most of the island's affairs.
caption: Norfolk Island Act 1913 Proclamation, effective 1 July 1914
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