Memories from pre-war New Ireland: George Oakes
I was born at Vunairima near Rabaul in 1934. My parents were Methodist missionaries at the time in the Duke of York Islands. When I was about 15 months old, my parents moved to...
Category: Time before
Some old New Guinea photos, Part 1: Graham Syphers
Papua New Guinea was a very different place before Independence. A fascinating place filled with unbelievable characters and real achievers. It had a unique history from the days when the British ran Papua and...
Some old New Guinea photos, Part 2: Graham Syphers
Hello there, Here is the final part of a personal reminiscence and quick look by one Australian expat living in New Guinea, pre Independence. I had a total of sixteen years flying in PNG....
Memories of school days through the eyes of a Lapun B4: Patricia Poircuitte (neé Spence)
At a recent small lunch gathering in Sydney, we happened to be three B4s from the Wau Valley area, together with children and grandchildren. In due course talk came around to schooling in New...
Some notes on the traditional shell money (and other currencies) of the Gazelle Peninsula: Maxell R Hayes
On arriving in Rabaul in 1959 my wife and I were quickly introduced to the local currency, particularly at the native markets, and found it to be known as ‘tambu’ or sometimes as ‘tabu’....
The annexation of New Guinea
Expansion of colonial interests in the Pacific – Queensland Govt Gazette – 1876. A refusal by the Crown to support Queensland in its quest for annexation of PNG. A reflection of interests and attitudes of...
Island trader, Gordon Harris
This story was found amongst papers written by Gordon Harris, formerly of Biwa Plantation on Djaul Island in the New Ireland Province. They were provided to the PNGAA by MaryLou Uechtritz. The islands off...
My life in Papua New Guinea: Sandy Sinclair
Alexander Morrison Sinclair, better known as Sandy, was born in Cunningham Street, Dundee in 1904. He joined the Brigade of Guards in 1921 where he served for 8 years at Home and in China...
