rich land around the town. Initially cattle and sheep were predominant, with some cropping as land was cleared. Hop plants were introduced in 1846, and became an important crop. A number of hop drying kilns or oast houses remain in the area including those at Glen Derwent (built by Cullen) and Valleyfield. Later history The first road connecting the town to Hobart was built in 1818. On 19 April 1827, Governor George Arthur issued an order to create the Willow Court infirmary, later known as Lachlan Park and most recently the Royal Derwent Hospital, as an asylum to accept sick and invalid convicts from Hobart, Launceston and outstations. Willow Court is now a large antiques centre. The New Norfolk Post Office opened on 1 June 1832. For some years after 1848, New Norfolk was the place of exile of the Irish nationalist leader Terence MacManus. His cottage "Kilburn Grange" still stands. Later he was joined by his fellow Irish rebel, William Smith O'Brien, who lived at Elwin's Hotel (now known as Glen Derwent). In 1887, the railway, now preserved as the Derwent Valley Railway, was built. In 1888, Australia's first telephone trunk call was connected from Hobart to the Bush Inn Hotel in New Norfolk. The 500-seat Plaza Theatre was constructed on a corner lot on High Street and opened its doors in 1932. Seating increased to 650 after renovations in 1940, however capacity was heavily reduced to 250 in 1971, with the venue utilising only the balcony seating. By March 1986, a new projection box was built and a side entrance was added to an auditorium wall, with the rear stalls and the previous foyer utilised for shopping. In 2016 the building is a Terry White Chemist. During the 1940s, a newsprint mill was established at nearby Boyer, boosting industry in the local area. Transport New Norfolk is located on the Lyell Highway the main east-west highway in the southern half of the state, running from Hobart to Strahan on the west coast. It is in fact the only major east-west road in the southern half of Tasmania. O’Driscoll Coaches Derwent Valley Link is a local family owned Bus company that Operates School Buses and General Access services between Hobart and the Derwent Valley and surrounding areas. MetroTas does not operate in New Norfolk. A rail link was opened in 1887 but was closed in 1995 when floods and