New Norfolk: History, Railways and the Derwent

New Norfolk offers travellers with specific cultural, culinary and landscape interests several ways to explore the area. Alongside its settlement history, there is railway and institutional history, a restaurant connected to its garden, a rum distillery and activities on the Derwent River. These distinctions can help you choose the focus of your trip based on your own interests.

Settlement history and historic places

New Norfolk is Tasmania’s third-oldest settlement. It was founded by evacuees who had been relocated from Norfolk Island. Some buildings and institutions also represent significant chapters in the town’s history: The Bush Inn is one of Australia’s oldest pubs, and St Matthew’s is Australia’s oldest Anglican church. Willow Court Asylum was Australia’s longest-operating psychiatric institution. This brings together different historical themes, from the settlement’s founding and church history to the past of a psychiatric institution.

Food and rum

Willow Court Asylum was redeveloped to house The Agrarian Kitchen and the cooking school that relocated there. The restaurant offers a set lunch menu; more than 90 per cent of its ingredients come from its own garden on site. If you plan your day around lunch there, check the booking details in advance, as they may change.

New Norfolk Distillery is Tasmania’s only rum-focused distillery. It offers distillery tours and tastings of rum, liqueurs and bottled cocktails. Product details, bookings and availability may change. If a tour or tasting is important to your plans, check the latest information in advance.

Railways and river activities

At the Derwent Valley Railway, volunteer guides show visitors an extensive collection of locomotives and other railway rolling stock. It includes steam and diesel locomotives formerly used on Tasmania’s mainline railway network. A visit therefore combines the vehicle collection with the history of rail transport in Tasmania.

Derwent Valley SUP offers stand-up paddleboarding on the Derwent River in New Norfolk; availability may change. A popular walking track runs from New Norfolk Caravan Park alongside the Derwent River through wetlands to Tynwald Park, where wild ducks and platypuses can be seen. Track conditions may vary, so plan with current conditions in mind. The two activities offer different perspectives: on the walk, you follow the river through wetlands to the park; stand-up paddleboarding takes you out on the river.

Views and antiques

Pulpit Rock Lookout, on the edge of New Norfolk, offers views of the Derwent Valley’s rolling agricultural landscape and the Derwent River. The landscape is therefore a focus in its own right, alongside the historic institutions and railway collection, when exploring the town.

New Norfolk describes itself as Tasmania’s antiques capital and has more than a dozen established antique shops and dealers. As the retail mix may change, check the current status of individual shops if you are interested. This lets you include this aspect of the town’s character in your decision, too.

Discover more destinations: Moina, Rocky Cape, Coles Bay, Wattle Hill, Thirlstane, Jackeys Marsh, Dennes Point, Winkleigh

For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.