Kingston, town, capital of the Australian territory of Norfolk Island, located on the island's S coast, on Emily Bay. Kingston is the administrative and historic center of Norfolk Island; its commercial center is nearby Burnt Pine. Tourism is the mainstay of the local economy. Citrus and passion fruit are grown. The area that is now Kingston was the 1788 landing site of the first 23 European settlers, a group that included 15 convicts. The settlement subsequently became the center of the notorious Norfolk Island penal colony, which operated until 1855. Many prison buildings have been restored and are now tourist attractions.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Australian and New Zealand Political Geography