Islam in Norfolk Island: history and Muslim population data

History of Islam in Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia, located in the Pacific Ocean, 1,400Km east of Australia, over 700Km northwest of New Zealand and over 700Km south of New Caledonia. The area of Norfolk Island is 35 sq km, including Phillip and Nepean Islands, which are uninhabited. A map of the Islands is presented in Figure 6.1.1.4. The Islands were claimed by the British in 1788, as part of their settlement in Australia. The island then served as a convict penal settlement until 1794, when it was abandoned until 1856, when permanent residence on the island for civilians began. In 1901, the island became a part of the Commonwealth of Australia which it has remained until this day. As shown in Table 6.1.1.4., census data show that until 2021 there were no Muslims living in these islands.