Ela Beach
Ela Beach, formerly known as Era Kone, meaning 'Turtle Beach' in the Motuan dialect of the Papuan region of Papua New Guinea, is Port Moresby's primary public beach.
With white sand stretching approximately 1 km long.
Located along the Ela Beach front are various recreational facilities such as basketball courts, beach volleyball courts, a boardwalk, a three-star hotel, two kiosks and an amphitheater.
Ela Beach is also the host venue for the annual Hiri-Moale Festival.
History
In the early 20th century, the beach was for whites only.[1] 1914 Ela beach was the starting point of the proposed Port Moresby to Rona (Rouna) railway. the original Casuarinas trees grew from the marks for this railway. The first world war stopped the railway works. Ela Beach was also used as a landing ground for the first areoplanes in Port Moresby until Kilakila airstrip was made. After the second world war many government offices and facilities were located on Ela beach Including the RSL and Ela Beach Infant school. This was the last none recreational facility and was eventually relocated from the beach site to its current site in the Ela Beach Primary School on the landward side of Sir Hubert Murray Highway. In 1964 a native hospital was operating at Ela Beach.[1]
References
- 1 2 Bulbeck, Chilla (2002) [1992]. Australian women in Papua New Guinea: colonial passages, 1920-1960. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521523202.