On Captain James cook was the first known European to discovery Norfolk Island. This discovery of this uninhabited paradise was in 1774 on his Second voyage around the world aboard HMS Resolution.

He named the Island Norfolk as the Duchess of Norfolk, wife of Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk. The Duchess of Norfolk had already passed away but as Captain James Cook had set out from England in 1772 he had not heard of her death in 1773.

Captain Cook first came ashore on Norfolk Island on 11th October 1774 and was struck by the island’s rugged beauty and reported that the flax and giant pines grew in abundantly here on the Island. He thought the pines would be suitable for masts of large ships and sail cloth and cordage could be made from the flax. Cook took samples back to the United Kingdom to show their potential uses but sadly he was mistaken.

Even thought the Island was uninhabited at the time of discovery by Captain James Cook, there was evidence of previous occupation by Polynesians has since been found. Captain James Cook sailed on and the Island was to remain uninhabited for a further 14 years.