The Norvill Family originated in England and Peter spent some time searching convict lists of the First Fleet, in an effort to find someone in his family with a memorable past that he could skite about.

His search was in vain and he gave up in disgust.

George Norvill(e) appears to have been the first family member to arrive in Australia , by sailing ship, during the mid-1800s – very soon after landing, he made his way to the Murrurundi area.

The Norvills were one of the first pioneering families to settle in the Murrurundi area and most became farmers, graziers or butchers.

Part of the land Peter owns today was farmed by Dave Norvill way back in those early days of colonisation.

Even though Peter can't boast a transported convict in his past, he discovered something which to him was just as important and exciting. Peter's paternal grandmother was a Fishburn , a direct descendant of Thomas Fishburn who built Captain Cook's Ship “Endeavour”.

Norvill Family Crest
Motto: spem renovant alae

Below is the oldest known picture of a Norvill – Samuel Norvill(e).
It is a photograph of a portrait.
Samuel Norvill(e) lived in the U.K. from 1777-1854.

You will notice that the “e” has been dropped and the family surname is now Norvill .

Samuel Norville
1777-1854

Peter Norvill
2005

Note the family resemblance?!                 

Members of the Norvill family are still prominent landholders in the Murrurundi, Wallabadah, Scone , Blandford, Quirindi and Tamworth areas and the family tradition of farming and grazing sheep and cattle continues to this day.

Lionel Norvill, Peter's father –
Middle-East WWII

 

Peter's paternal grandparents, on their way to Government House. H G E Norvill was Mayor of Murrurundi