Kvarøy in the present
Kvarøy is a charming island located just ten minutes from the mainland, with approximately 80 permanent residents. All activities and facilities are within walking distance. This proximity means that there is virtually no car traffic on the island, but there is frequent use of wheelbarrows and bicycles. On Kvarøy you will find the local shop Kvarøy Handel, a pub, the restaurant Olea’s Kjøkken, an active business community, school and kindergarden.
We offer activities such as sea fishing, kayaking, bird watching, crab fishing, stamping and hiking in the surrounding area. Here you can enjoy Helgeland’s nature at its very best in a fascinating landscape with mighty mountains, the sea and the light in all seasons. You’re guaranteed to find activities to suit you and yours.
A little about Kvarøy’s history
Kvarøy consists of the islands Indre Kvarøy and Ytre Kvarøy and is part of the island municipality of Lurøy.
The islands are located just south of the Arctic Circle with a view of the Arctic Circle island Vikingen.
The name Kvarøy probably comes from the meaning “brake or edge”. It was originally called Ytre Quarøen and Indre Quarøen. In ancient times, both inner and outer Kvarøy formed a natural boundary for the sailing route between Selsøyvik and Solvær, a “quare” or edge for sailing boats. Kvarøy is located in the middle of the shipping lane and has a central place in Lurøy’s local history.
Until the turn of the millennium, there were still operations and settlements on Ytre Kvarøy, dating back to 700 AD. Today, the island is used as a holiday resort for cottagers.
THE MEROVINGIAN PERIOD ON OUTER/YTRE KVARØY
The Merovingian period (600-800 AD) is a little-known era before the Viking Age. Few archaeological finds have been made from this period, but on Ytre Kvarøy the richest burial find in Northern Norway from this period was made in 1968. Farmer Håkon Ivarsen from Ytre Kvarøy notified Tromsø Museum of interesting finds in a field that was plowed for the first time that year. The findings revealed a rich settlement here. Four men’s graves, four women’s graves and two children’s graves were found. Gifts were found in all of the graves, which may indicate long lines of connection to the east, west and south. The graves span the entire 200-year period and provide us with a rare archaeological document of pre-Viking settlement. Findings from the Viking Age indicate continued settlement on the islands.
It was not until 1600 that we have new sources that tell us something about the population. On Indre Kvarøy there were two farmers and two householders,
while on Ytre Kvarøy there were two farmers and one householder.
In 1723, there were four farmers on Indre Kvarøy, who had two horses, 12 cows and grew three barrels of rye and 19 barrels of mixed grain.
In the same year, there was only one farmer on Ytre Kvarøy who had a horse, 12 cows and six sheep, and also grew one barrel of rye and 18 barrels of mixed grain.
INNER KVARØY AS A PORT OF CALL
Indre Kvarøy became a port of call for through coastal routes as early as 1860, when the port of call was moved here from Anklakken, west of Kvarøy.
From 1893, the Hurtigruten began calling at Indre Kvarøy and this continued until 1953. Indre Kvarøy had, and still has, an ideal location in relation to the shipping lane. This made Indre Kvarøy a central transshipment point for goods and a traffic hub for northern Helgeland.
Shipping was expanding and contributed to increased activity on the island. In connection with the Hurtigruten port of call, a quay was built on the site in 1909, and two cafés were built, the first in 1911. A hotel extension was also built at Bakken Farm, where there was also a bakery.
A newspaper, “Håløyger”, was published for a short period of time, but it was best known for its many typos.
Other curiosities include a soda factory on the island.
In the years 1899 – 1913, a trade market was held here. In 2009, almost 100 years later, a trade market was held on Kvarøy again. With many visitors, it was a great success.
CLIPFISH DRYING ON KVARØY
Clipfish processing became known in Norway in the mid-18th century, but it wasn’t until the end of the century that the trade became of national economic importance in this country. Areas in Lurøy also became involved in this labor-intensive production, which in some hectic spring and summer months created hustle and bustle at the local drying sites. Most central in Lurøy were the white and clean rocks on Indre Kvarøy, which were more or less in active use from the 1870s until the last war.
Rock fish drying began in earnest around 1880 when Knut Haukenes became the local shopkeeper. He built the large Haukenes jetty. The jetty still stands today after local enthusiasts saved it from total decay. The restoration began in 2002 and was completed in 2008. Kvarøy eventually became one of the most important drying sites in Helgeland. The mountains on Kvarøy could hold up to 60,000 fish for drying.
Den mest aktive perioden med klippfisktørking var i perioden 1923-33, da Sigurd Hansen Blomsø brukte bergene. Klippfisk fra Kvarøy ble eksportert til mange katolske land og da spesielt til Spania der vi nordmenn kjenner den som Bacalao. I spanske ordbøker er bacalao den direkte oversettelsen av torsk til spansk.
KVARØY IN MORE RECENT TIMES
Like most other islands, Kvarøy experienced a marked exodus after the last war. The state actively stepped in and encouraged people to move to more central areas. In fact, people were given state aid to move from their farms and land. Nevertheless, Kvarøy’s geographical location has probably helped to keep the population relatively stable. Even with a modest population (approx. 70 inhabitants), the place is still viable.
Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett was founded in 1976. The company is still privately owned and generates both jobs and new businesses on the island. The staircase factory on Kvarøy was established in 1955 and has developed well in recent years. Kvarøy still has its own school and kindergarden, which has been crucial in attracting families with children and workers to the island.