]Geoffrey Ingleton states that "Norfolk" "... started life as the longboat of HMS Sirius"  Cumpston describes "Norfolk" as, “A decked longboat built at Norfolk I[sland].” Governor Hunter quickly put "Norfolk" under the command of the colonial master Peter Hibbs (seaman formerly on the "Sirius") to carry Matthew Flinders to be used as a survey vessel.In 1798-99 "Norfolk" was used by Flinders and Bass to circumnavigate Tasmania – proving the existence of Bass Strait.