Port Moresby

Port Moresby Pot Mosbi
—  City and National Capital District  —
Downtown Port Moresby
Flag
Port Moresby Location in Papua New Guinea
Coordinates:
Country	Papua New Guinea
Province	National Capital District
Established	1873
Government
- Governor	Powes Parkop (2007-)
Area
- Total	92.7 sq mi (240 km2)
Elevation	115 ft (35 m)
Population (2009)
- Total	307,643
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
Main languages	Motu, Tok Pisin, English

Queensland raises the British flag at Port Moresby 1883

Port Moresby (pronounced /ˌpɔrt ˈmɔrzbi/), or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea (PNG). It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea. In 2000 it had a population of 254,158.^[1] As of 2009 it has a population of 307,643, giving it an annual growth rate of 2.1% over a nine year period.

The place where the city was founded has been inhabited by the Motu-Koitabu people for centuries. The first European to see it was Captain John Moresby in 1873. It was named in honour of his father Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby.

According to a survey of world cities by the Intelligence Unit of The Economist, Port Moresby is one of the world's least livable cities (ranked 137 of 140 cities rated).^[2]

Although Port Moresby is surrounded by Central Province, of which it is also the capital, it is not part of that province, but forms the National Capital District.

History

Before colonisation

The Motuan people of the area now known as Port Moresby traded their pots for sago, other food and canoe logs, sailing from Hanuabada and other villages built on stilts above the waters of the bay. They also intermarried with the Gulf people and created strong family and trade links.

The Hiri expeditions were large scale. As many as 20 multi-hulled canoes or lakatoi, crewed by some 600 men, carried about 20,000 clay pots on each journey. To the Motuans, not only was the Hiri an economic enterprise but it also confirmed their tribal identity through its long and dangerous voyages. These voyages are commemorated in modern times by the annual Hiri Moale Festival held at Ela Beach in September.

Colonisation

There was already an important trade centre on the site of Port Moresby when the English Captain John Moresby of HMS Basilisk first visited it. He sailed through the Coral Sea at the eastern end of New Guinea, saw three previously unknown islands, and landed there. At 10 a.m. on 20 February 1873, he claimed the land for Britain and named it after his father, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby. He called the inner reach "Fairfax Harbour" and the other Port Moresby.

No Europeans settled there until ten years later, when the southeastern part of New Guinea was annexed to the British Empire. British New Guinea was transferred to the newly established Commonwealth of Australia in 1906, and became known as Papua. From then until 1941 Port Moresby grew slowly. The main growth was on the peninsula, where port facilities and other services were gradually improved. The first butcher's shop and grocery opened in 1909^[3] electricity was introduced in 1925^[4], and piped water supply provided in 1941.^[5]

World War II and after

The original flag of the capital

During World War II, some Papuan men enlisted in the Papua Infantry Battalion, and others as carriers for supply support to Allied and Japanese armies.^[6] Many other Papuan residents of Port Moresby either returned to their villages or were evacuated to camps when the threat of Japanese invasion loomed. The city was home to an important Allied base and thousands of troops were stationed in the area: it was the last allied bastion on the island and the last line of defence against the Japanese before Australia.^[7][8] Thus it was a target of a Japanese invasion fleet in May 1942, but the invasion was prevented in the Battle of Coral Sea. The Japanese then attempted to take the city by land over the Kokoda Track. During this period Port Moresby, especially its "villages", fell into disrepair; and after the war the whole town had to be rebuilt.

In 1945, the Territory of Papua and New Guinea was formed when Papua and the former German New Guinea, which had been administered by Australia since 1918, were amalgamated under a single Australian administration. Port Moresby became the capital of the new combined territory and a focal point for the expansion of public services.

Capital city of an independent Papua New Guinea

Front side of the parliament building.

In September 1975, Papua New Guinea became an independent country with Port Moresby as its capital city. New government buildings were constructed at Waigani to house government departments, including a National Parliament Building, which opened in 1984 and blends traditional design with modern building technology. The PNG National Museum and National Library are also located at Waigani.

Unfortunately, several of these government buildings have now been abandoned due to long-term neglect. Chief amongst these are Marea Haus (known to most locals as the "Pineapple Building") and the Central Government Offices. Nearby buildings such as Morauta Haus and Vulupindi Haus are now starting to show significant signs of decay due to a lack of maintenance, including crumbling fire stairs, grimy restrooms and elevators that are always out of service.

The population of the Port Moresby area expanded rapidly after independence. In 1980 the census registered 120,000; by 1990, this had increased to 195,000.

The city is often covered by a smoke haze created by the numerous small fires lit beside the road and in the bush by its inhabitants. These are left to burn out without intervention by the local fire department.

In 2004, Port Moresby was ranked the worst capital city in the world to live in the Economist Intelligence Unit's ranking of 130 of the world's capital cities. High levels of rape, robbery and murder and large areas of the city controlled by gangs of thugs, known locally as "rascals" (raskol in Tok Pisin), were cited.^[7][8] According to a 2004 article in The Guardian newspaper, unemployment rates are estimated to be between 60% and 90% and murder rates three times that of Moscow and 23 times the rate in London.^[9]

Climate

Port Moresby has a tropical wet and dry climate with relatively constant temperatures throughout the year. The wet season starts in December and ends in May; the dry season covers the remaining six months. Port Moresby's average yearly rainfall is just over 1000 mm. Average daily high temperatures range from 28°C to 32°C depending on time of year, while the average low temperature shows very little seasonal variation, hovering around the 24°C mark. It tends to be slightly cooler in the city during the dry season.

Regions and suburbs

Port Moresby refers to both the urbanised area of the National Capital District and more specifically to the main business area, known locally as "Town". Other neighbourhoods of Port Moresby include: Koki, with its popular fresh produce market, Newtown, Konedobu, Kaevaga, Badili, Gabutu, Kila, Matirogo, Three Mile, Kaugere, Sabama, Korobosea, Four Mile, Hohola, Hohola North, Boroko, a major shopping area, Gordons, Gordons North, Erima, Saraga, Waigani, Morata and Gerehu. There are also villages like Hanuabada, the biggest village in Papua New Guinea.

Transport

Port Moresby is served by Jacksons International Airport, the biggest international airport and PNG Defence Force Air Wing base in the country. Air Niugini and Airlines PNG both conduct regular domestic and international services from the airport, while Pacific Blue (Virgin Blue) flies to Brisbane.

Jacksons has international flights to Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Honiara, Nadi, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Narita.

As the national highway system is not fully linked, there are many internal flights to other towns, e.g. Madang, which cannot be reached by ground transport, such as minibuses, known locally as PMVs (Public Motor Vehicles).

Economy

Airlines PNG has its head office on the grounds of Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby.^[10]

Twin towns

• Jinan, People's Republic of China (Province Shandong) since September 28, 1988
• Palm Desert, United States (California)
• Townsville, Australia (Queensland) since 1983

Associated town:

• Jayapura, Indonesia (Province Irian Jaya)

References

External links

• http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/png/about_destin/port_moresby.html
• http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/png/about_destin/portmoresbytown.html
• Website for Port Moresby

Provinces of Papua New Guinea Bougainville1 · Central · Eastern Highlands · East New Britain · East Sepik · Enga · Gulf · Madang · Manus · Milne Bay · Morobe · New Ireland · Oro (Northern) · Sandaun (West Sepik) · Simbu (Chimbu) · Southern Highlands · Western · Western Highlands · West New Britain National Capital District (Port Moresby) 1 Autonomous region.

Provincial capitals of Papua New Guinea Alotau (MB) · Arawa or Buka (Bougainville) · Daru (Western) · Goroka (EHP) · Kavieng (NI) · Kerema (Gulf) · Kimbe (WNB) · Kokopo (ENB) · Kundiawa (Simbu) · Lae (Morobe) · Lorengau (Manus) · Madang (Madang) · Mendi (SHP) · Mount Hagen (WHP) · Popondetta (Oro) · Port Moresby (Central/NCD) · Wabag (Enga) · Wewak (ES) · Vanimo (WS)