Background Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

NOTE: The information regarding Norfolk Island on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Norfolk Island Introduction 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Norfolk Island Introduction 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.