Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891:body:0:p27
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 85069–87788

they scuttled the HMAV Bounty. The
community remained isolated until 1808 when American whalers visited, by which time only a single mutineer,
John Adams, and no Tahitian men remained alive, after a series of murders and other deaths.

On 20 September 1854 Sir William Denison, the new Governor of New South Wales, requested that Norfolk
Island be placed under his jurisdiction. In September 1855, Denison dispatched Captain Stephen Fremantle in
HMS Juno to Pitcairn to find out if the inhabitants wanted to move to Norfolk Island. The people of Pitcairn
voted to make the transfer and they sailed on the Morayshire, landing at Kingston on 8 June 1856.

The Pitcairn Islanders first stayed in 'barracks', presumably the New Military Barracks, and were made familiar
with the place and the operation of the mills and the blacksmith's shop. By 1857 the Islanders were in
possession of the Kingston buildings, but they had difficulty repairing them owing to a lack of experience and
skills, and the small number of adult males. They maintained only those they needed. Each household head
was allocated a 50 acre lot, away from Kingston. A formal survey was made in 1858 and titles were issued in
1859. These regulations prevented the sale of land issued by grant from the Crown to people who did not have
permission to live on the Island. This differed from the Pitcairners' understanding that the Island had been
ceded to them." Divergent views about the ownership of Norfolk Island, and particularly whether the Pitcairn
Islanders received title to the entirety of Norfolk Island or specific lots, remain today.

The Pitcairn settlers built a timber church in 1870 on the former Parade Ground, but it was destroyed by a
severe storm in 1874. It was not rebuilt; instead the church was transferred to the altered former Commissariat
Store. Some buildings were used by shore whaling companies, one as a school and many as houses.
Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, a number of the buildings at Kingston decayed—these were primarily
buildings associated directly with the convicts, such as the New Gaol, Lumber Yard, Convict Barracks and Civil
Hospital. Until 1900 few significant physical changes occurred in Kingston. A courtroom was built in the New
Military Barracks in 1896 and some buildings were modified as needed for use. 1897 saw a regular steamship
service to Sydney, run by Burns Philp who altered the Old Military Barracks as their office. Additions and
alterations were also made to some of the houses.

The administration of Norfolk Island was transferred to the Governor of New South Wales, taking effect on 1
January 1901. In 1903 the New South Wales Government decided to issue licenses for occupation of the