ON THE MOVE: NEW NORFOLK
THE THRIVING COMMUNITY OF NEW NORFOLK LOVE THIS RIVERSIDE TASMANIAN TOWN FOR ITS CHARACTER AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
We head to Tasmania to explore this riverside town with breathtaking natural scenery.
THE BUSY TOWN AND COMMERCIAL HUB of New Norfolk sits on a broad sweep of the poplar-lined Derwent River in south-east Tasmania. While the town’s rich past as Tasmania’s third oldest settlement (established in 1807) is evident in some of New Norfolk’s old buildings, today it’s also appreciated as a vibrant place to live close to Hobart. With a thriving orchard industry, cooking schools and fine dining scene, its reputation as a food destination is adding to the attraction. Few know this better than Tammy and Donna Baird and their sister Rachel James, who grew up in New Norfolk and now run businesses there. Tammy, Donna and their mum Sue own The Drill Hall Emporium, a high-end antiques store with a department store feel, while Rachel is the letterpress printer at Flywheel, a boutique stationery and printing business that the family also runs. “It was great growing up here, swimming in the river and kayaking down the rapids,” says Tammy. “These days more and more people are moving here, especially from interstate. It’s great for the first home buyer, and it’s becoming a food destination, with the Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School, and the new Agrarian Kitchen Eatery attracting people.” “We have a Saturday market now in the centre of town, and Two Metre Tall brewery have farm bar nights on Friday and Sunday offering barbecue facilities,” Donna adds. “All the antiques stores in town make for a good day out, as well as nice attractions like Russell Falls and Tynwald Park. People often call in to The Drill Hall on their way to have a meal at the Agrarian Kitchen, and all these things are good for local jobs.” Rachel, 23, agrees. She just bought her first home — a 1950s house — in New Norfolk, extending the family connection into the future. She’s confident the town will continue to flourish, but part of her decision to buy here was simply because she liked the idea of walking to work. >