Celebrating World Heritage Day 18 April

Thursday the 18 April was World Heritage Day, it is a day for us to learn about the Norfolk Island history, as well as the cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

On Norfolk Island we are surrounded with history and heritage. The World Heritage Site at Kingston has many layers of history from the Polynesian to British First Colonial settlement with the arrival of the British First Fleeters in 1788 and closed in 1814. Each year the annual “Foundation Day” is held at Emily Bay, this is the re-enactment of the First Fleeters arriving on 6 March 1788 as the pioneer British settlers. Following the closure of the British settlement on Norfolk Island, the British returned to set up another convict settlement named the British Second Penal Settlement 1825 to 1855 and the ruins at Kingston are a reminder of the Penal Settlement and the Georgian Buildings they constructed.

The next historical event was the arrival of the Pitcairn Islanders on 8 June 1856, over 168 years ago. Living here on Norfolk Island for over a decade, learning about the Pitcairn Island heritage and the beautiful culture is a very special part of living on Norfolk Island. The caring community, the sharing of knowledge, language, dance, and plaiting the beautiful hats. I always enjoy “Bounty Anniversary Day” and the Heiva Day celebrations which is a fantastic day at the beach. There is also the verbal history and I always find it so interesting to listen to the history of Norfolk Island. The Island community has very important heritage stories to tell.

The history is still unfolding on Norfolk Island, with the war years and the development of the airport to the upgrades to transport and shipping. In 2022 the traditional lighterage boats were retired and new motorised transfer vessels were purchased, ending generations of the locally built Norfolk Island lighterage boats unloading the cargo ships.

I enjoy our dark skies on Norfolk Island and strongly feel the starry nights need protecting for future generations. Once light pollution takes away the darkness, the lovely dark nights that are enjoyed for many years will be impacted but hopefully with education our “Norfolk Island Magical Dark Skies” will remain for many years to come.

World Heritage Week that it is a perfect time to explore the historic areas here on Norfolk Island. Sometimes we seem to drive past the ruins at Kingston and forget to stop and think about the past and who once walked this land. It is normally when we have visitors, that we stop and explore and visit the areas.

The Norfolk Island Museums is a great place to start exploring, with interesting displays and plenty of information to read about Norfolk Island’s history and heritage. The Museums are at the World Heritage Site at Kingston, known as KAVHA, the Kingston Arthur’s Vale Historic Area.

Don’t forget to stop at the War Memorial and acknowledge the many layers of the Norfolk Island war history. The Norfolk Island RSL Memorial Sub-branch as a wonderful museum which is very interesting which covers WWII history when the airport was constructed on Norfolk Island. During WWII a radar post was set up on Norfolk Island and New Zealand Armed Forces were here during the war. The RSL Museum also has history about the local community who joined the navy, air force and army during the Great Wars, Boer War, WWI and WWII, Korea, and Vietnam wars plus other military conflicts in recent years. Check at the RSL in Taylors Road, for the details of the open hours.

It can also be nice to drive to the northern end of Norfolk Island and visit the memorial at Captain Cook Reserve, the coastal area where Captain Cook came ashore in October 1774, naming Norfolk Island and claiming it for England. 2024 was the 250^th anniversary since the historic visit of Captain James Cook, during his Second Voyage of the South Pacific, sailing on-board the HMS Resolution.

This is some information I researched about World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day is also called “International Monuments and Sites Day” and started in 1982. This year World Heritage Day is held on 18^th April. It commemorates the shared wealth of humankind. Protecting and preserving this valuable asset demands the collective efforts of the international community. This special day offers an opportunity to raise the public's awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

ICOMOS, the International Council for Monuments and Sites makes a number of suggestions on how to celebrate the World Heritage Day:

If you would like to read more check out these internet sites

Did you know that 18 April is World Heritage Day? (gdrc.org)

Welcome to the Australian Heritage Festival – National Trust

World Heritage is an annual national celebration across Australia’s unique heritage and many countries around the world. It is an opportunity for all of the community to join together to celebrate the shared and special heritage. All communities are encouraged to get involved by planning and hosting a range of exciting activities during World Heritage Day to showcase the local heritage.

I enjoyed a walk at Kingston on 18 April and took a few photos of the view of the world heritage area, including the buildings and the landscape. Here are a few of my photographs which shows the variety of heritage stories of Norfolk Island and the Norfolk culture which is the foundation of our beautiful community

Betty Matthews

25 April 2025