Get a 360° view of our rich, fascinating and at times dark past through the Norfolk Island Museums. Famous for its colourful history, Norfolk Island was first settled by Polynesians, visited by Captain Cook and later used by the British as a penal colony. Since 1856 it has been home to a close-knit population of around 2,000 people, half of which can trace their ancestry to Pitcairn Islanders and the Bounty mutineers. The Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site is a living museum, whose heritage buildings are home to exhibitions and museums which bring to life our multi-layered stories through spell-binding historical displays.
Museums Pass
The Norfolk Island Museums Pass allows you to save money on your tickets and visit all four of the island’s excellent museums as well as take part in two guided tours.
As hard as it is to drag yourself away from the natural beauty of our island, be sure to take time out from snorkelling and hiking to visit some of our museums. The Pier Store Museum and its artefacts from the famous Bounty, the Commissariat Store Museum, No.10 Quality Row house museum and the Sirius Museum reveal the history and culture of our ancestors and provide a deeper understanding of what has shaped Norfolk Island and its people.
Top tips for museums in Kingston
- Pick up souvenirs or books on Norfolk Island’s history at the REO Museum Shop. Housed in the former Royal Engineers Office beside the Kingston Pier, the shop is also the meeting place for the Museums tours.
- While the Norfolk Island Museums are the focus of our historical collections, the past is everywhere. Keep an eye out for place names such as Slaughter Bay and for historic buildings that convicts and settlers lived in.