Contest #806: Kingston and Arthur’s Vale, Norfolk Island, Australia

Thanks to Graham Hedley who provided the location, hint and reveal post content for this week’s contest.

The Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area (KAVHA) on Norfolk Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its cultural and historical significance. This area, which includes the town of Kingston, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2010 as part of the “Australian Convict Sites” group, along with ten other sites across Australia.

KAVHA encompasses an extensive area on the southeastern side of Norfolk Island and represents the complex history of the island as a penal settlement, a thriving whaling station, and a trading port. The site bears witness to the British Empire’s use of convict labor and the evolving strategies for managing and reforming convicts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The worst of the convict population from both New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land were sent to Norfolk Island; men who had become so brutalised by the system that ever increasing levels of punishment only served to make them more recalcitrant. The prospect of punishment by death was no deterrent.

The Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area contains several well-preserved remnants of the penal settlement era, including the Old Military Barracks, the New Gaol, the Commissariat Store, the Royal Engineer’s Office, the Crankmill, and the Surgeon’s Quarters. Additionally, it includes the ruins of the Officer’s Bath and the ruins of the First Government House.

KAVHA also features the picturesque Arthur’s Vale, a lush, fertile valley located to the west of Kingston. The area is characterized by its distinctive Georgian architecture, which reflects the British influence on the island during the colonial period.

Visitors to the Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area can take guided tours to explore the site’s history, enjoy the scenic beauty of the area, and learn about the island’s convict past through interpretive displays and the Norfolk Island Museum. The site is not only of historical importance but also plays a vital role in the island’s tourism industry.

Before the hint:

  • Graham Hedley
  • hhgygy
  • Garfield
  • Martin de Bock
  • Phil Ower
  • Lighthouse
  • Andreas Meister
  • Robert
  • zorro the fox
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Bas van Limpt

After the hint:

  • Gillian B.
  • Eloy Cano