Norfolk Island Second Penal Settlement 1825-1855 Australia Post Collectable Stamps Norfolk Island 2025

Since 2016, Australia Post has issued stamps with Norfolk Island historic events, Fauna and Flora and many other themes. Last year there have been three series of stamps issued, January, March and June 2024. This month I am following up with the 4 February 2025 Norfolk Island Second Penal Settlement 1825-1855 postage stamps series. It is the most recent issue, and the next set of stamps is due this month on 17 June 2025, Norfolk Island Nature. I will write about Norfolk Island Nature postage stamps on another article.

The Norfolk Island Second Penal Settlement 1825-1855 postage stamps series has been issued to commemorate the 200^th anniversary since the start of the Second British Penal Settlement of Norfolk Island, 6^th June 1825. This series has two stamps in this set, both of the postage stamps have images of artefacts from the Norfolk Island Museum collections. The series include a minisheet and First Day Covers.

The Norfolk island Second Penal Settlement 1825-1855 collectable stamps were designed by Lisa Christensen, Three Branches Design.

The First Day cover have an image of convict leg irons from the Norfolk Island Museum, images of the elevation of the new gaol, Norfolk Island 1848, from the Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office, PWD266/1/1892.

The Minisheet has images of the “cat o’nine tails” from the Norfolk Island Museum, a plan of proposed new gaol, Norfolk Island, 1837, sourced from the Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office, PWD266/1/1887.

Stamp images The $1.50 stamp has a (Shako plate) badge of the 99^th Regiment and the $3.00 stamp has a convict settlement padlock. Both images are from convict artefacts from the Norfolk Island Museum. The Norfolk Island convict system, wood engraving, London, 12 June 1847, National Library of Australia, PIC Drawer 3843 #S9883 (stamp background image, Norfolk Island – Returns, 1828-29, [4/117], Reel 764, State Library of New South Wales (stamp background text).

Here are extracts from the Australia Post page with interesting information about Norfolk Island Second Penal Settlement 1825-1855.

https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/stamp-issues/norfolk-island-penal-settlement-200-years

Norfolk Island Penal Settlement – 200 Years - Australia Post

Overview

Norfolk Island was subject to two periods of penal settlement by Britain: the first from 1788 to 1814, the second from 1825 to 1855.

The second penal settlement was intended to turn the island into a “great hulk or penitentiary”, a place of punishment for those recalcitrant male convicts who had reoffended since being deported to the Australian colonies.

On 6 June 1825, 57 convicts reoccupied the island and by 1834, there were nearly 700 prisoners. They received harsh, inhumane treatment, including floggings, restraint with leg irons, poor food, inadequate housing and hard labour in chain gangs.

Between 1828 and 1850, convicts were transported to and from the island on around 40 voyages.

In 1853, Britain stopped the transportation of prisoners to Van Diemen’s Land, which is where the last of the Norfolk Island convicts were taken in May 1855.

Technical specifications:

Issue date - 4 February 2025

Issue withdrawal date -1 September 2025

Denomination - 1 x $1.50, 1 x $3

First Day Cover

FDI postmark - Norfolk Island NSW 2899

FDI withdrawal date - 5 March 2025

In 2016, Australia Post released their first ever stamp issue for Norfolk Island, following the closure of the Norfolk Island postal service after a long and proud history of publishing postage stamps for the local community and for stamp collectors across the world. I have always found postage stamps are a wonderful way to record history and I enjoy looking at old postage series, especially those published by Norfolk Island Philatelic which are an excellent record of the years of Norfolk Island past through the eyes of artists, designers, historians and environmental experts.

If you are interested in collecting Norfolk Island postage stamps, check out the Australia Post Collectables.com.au website https://auspost.com.au or visit the Norfolk Island branch of Australia Post at P&R near the roundabout and the Ferny Lane Theatre. The Norfolk Island Second Penal Settlement 1825-1855 postage stamps were also available for sale at the REO, Norfolk Island Museum, Kingston.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this historic event which we are celebrating on Norfolk Island this month and here are some images of this stamp issue for readers to enjoy

Betty Matthews

6 June 2025