The uninhabited island of Norfolk (so named by Capt. James Cook in honor of one of
his patrons, the Duchess of Norfolk) was reached by the British in 1774.
In 1788 it became part of the British Colony of New South Wales and like the colony
itself the island became a penal settlement, that lasted until 1814 when Norfolk was
abandoned.
In 1825 a second penal settlement was established on the island, first again as a
part of New South Wales and later - since 1844 - as a part of Tasmania Colony.
In 1855 Norfolk Island was once again abandoned.
In 1856 the population of overpopulated Pitcairn Island was allowed to settle on the
island, which now became a distinct British dependency.
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS
BRITISH CHIEF ADMINISTRATORSGovernors
1856 - 1897 The Governors of New South Wales
Administrators
1846 - 1853 John Giles Price 1808 - 1857
1853 - 1854 Capt. Rupert Deering
1854 - 1855 Capt. H. Day
1855 - 1856 Thomas Samuel Stewart
(Caretaker of the abandoned
island)
INDIGENOUS CHIEF ADMINISTRATORSChief Magistrates
(elected annually by the inhabitants of Norfolk Island)
1856 - 1857 George Martin Frederick Young 1822 - 1899
1858 Isaac Christian 1825 - 1877
1859 George Martin Frederick Young (2x)
1860 - 1861 Thomas Buffett 1825 - 1900
1862 - 1865 Arthur Quintal II 1816 - 1902
1866 William Quintal 1817 - 1905
1867 - 1870 John Buffett 1826 - 1906
1871 David Buffett 1826 - 1924
1872 - 1873 William Quintal (2x)
1874 - 1875 Fletcher Christian Nobbs 1833 - 1912
1876 - 1880 Francis Mason Nobbs 1835 - 1909
1881 - 1882 John Buffett (2x)
1883 - 1884 Francis Mason Nobbs (2x)
1885 Arthur Quintal II (2x)
1886 - 1887 Stephen Christian 1843 - 1918
1888 Henry Seymour Buffett 1847 - 1931
1889 - 1890 Stephen Christian (2x)
1891 - 1892 Byron Stanley Mitchell Adams 1847 - 1902
1893 Stephen Christian (3x)
1894 Francis Mason Nobbs (3x)
1895 - 1896 Byron Stanley Mitchell Adams (2x)
NEW SOUTH WALES DEPENDENCY OF NORFOLK ISLAND
In 1896 New South Wales toke over the administration of Norfolk and the following
year the island was formally annexed to this British colony.
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS
Chief Magistrates (1)
1896 - 1897 Col. Warner Wright Spalding 1844 - 1920
1898 - 1903 Charles McArthur King
1903 - 1907 Capt. Walton Drake
1907 - 1913 Capt. Charles Sinclair Elliot
(1) Indigenous participation in the government of the island was now educed to
some advisory tasks :
President of the Council of Elders
1896 - 1899 Oliver Masey Quintal 1841 - 1922
1899 - 1900 John Buffett 1826 - 1906
1900 - 1903 John Forrester Young 1852 - 1913
Presidents of the Executive Council
1903 - 1909 Francis Mason Nobbs s.a.
1909 - 1913 Joseph Allen McCleave Buffett 1851 - 1921
AUSTRALIAM TERRITORY OF NORFOLK ISLAND
In 1913 the Australian federal government toke over the administration of Norfolk
Island and the following year it formally became an Australian federal territory.(2)
(2) Like in the previous period indigenous participation in the government was
limited to some advisory functions :
Presidents of the Executive Council
1913 - 1915 Joseph Allen McCleave Buffett s.a.
1915 - 1916 Charles Chase Ray Nobbs 1859 - 1938
1916 - 1919 Matthew Frederick Howard Christian 1859 -
1919 - 1920 Albert Randall
1921 - 1922 Enoch Cobcroft Robinson 1875 - 1964
1922 - 1923 Albert Randall (2x)
1924 - 1928 Eustace Buffett Christian 1869 - 1944
1928 - 1933 Enoch Cobcroft Robinson (2x)
1933 - 1934 Charles Chase Ray Nobbs (2x)
1934 Eustace Buffett Christian (2x)
1934 - 1935 Francis Rawdon M. Crozier
Presidents of the Advisory Council
1935 - 1936 Charles Chase Ray Nobbs s.a.
1936 - 1937 Enoch Cobcroft Robinson s.a.
1937 - 1941 William McLachlan
1941 - 1947 George Hunn Nobbs Buffett 1885 - 1957
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS
Administrators and Chief Magistrates
1913 - 1920 Michael Vincent Murphy
1920 - 1924 Gen. John William Parnell 1860 - 1931
1924 - 1926 Col. Edwin Thomas Leane 1867 - 1928
1926 Henry Stephenson Edgar*
1926 - 1927 Michael Vincent Murphy (2x)
1927 - 1928 MajGen. Victor Conradsdorf Morisset
Sellheim 1866 - 1928
1928 Henry Stephenson Edgar* (2x)
1928 - 1929 Charles Edward Herbert 1860 - 1929
1929 - 1932 Col. Alfred Joshua Bennett 1865 - 1946
1932 - 1937 Capt. Charles Robert Pinney 1883 - 1945
Administrator
1937 - 1945 MajGen. Sir Charles Rosenthal 1875 - 1954
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