Figure 1.--Here we see a scene in New Guinea during the late-19th century. his magic lattern slide appears to date to the 1890s, about the time Geramny and Britain colonized easrern New Guinea. Notice the huge clay rather than metal pots.

New Guinea was settled as part of the first migration out of Africa (60,000-%0,000 BP). The people are now known as Melanesians. They passed through Southeast Asia before the modern population arrived. As it was during the Ice Age, ocean levels were lower and distances between modern islands were shorter or non existent. Thus what is New Guinea and Australia were one of the first landmasses after Africa and southern Eurasia to be populated by modern humans. Modern new Guineans thus can claim to be dome of the oldest continuous cultures on the planet. New Guinea was among the most isolated places on the planet with virtually mo contact with the outside world. The island was discovered from a fairly early point of the European maritime expansion into Oceania, but there was no settlement or colonization. Portuguese and Spanish navigators sailing in the South Pacific were probably the first Europeans to sight New Guinea (16th century). Don Jorge de Meneses, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the island (about 1526-27). Although various European navigators visited and explored New Guinea and nearby islands, there was no colonization. The Dutch as part of their colonization of the East Indies (Indonesia) claimed the western part of the island. The eastern part of the island (modern Papua) was not colonized until later (late-19th century). And here there was a difference between the north and south. The Germans claimed the northeastern part of New Guinea (1884). They also acquired other islands north and east of New Guinea. The late colonization reflected the general European assessment as to the value of Mew Guinea. Germany authorized a chartered company to administer its one colony. The Imperial government took direct control (1899). The German Pacific possessions changed hands in World War I. Australian forces troops occupied German New Guinea and it remained under Australian military control (until 1921). After the War, the new League of Nations introduced a whole new concept to European colonization--the mandate. A League mandated obligated the mandate power to govern in the best interests of the population and prepare them for independence. The British Government, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, assumed a mandate from the League of Nations for governing the Territory of New Guinea (1920). At the time the independence of Australia was still evolving. That mandate was administered by the Australian Government until the Japanese World War II invasion (1942). The British reacting to the German action in the north, proclaimed a protectorate over southeastern New Guinea (which they called Papua and its adjacent islands. The protectorate, was annexed outright (1888). It was transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia (1902). The Papua Act of 1905, changed British New Guinea to the Territory of Papua, beginning the formal Australian administration (1906). This continued until the Pacific War (1941-45). Dutch, German, British and Australian colonial control primarily affected the coastal areas. Few Europeans ventured into the rugged and often hostile interior. And as might be expected a strong lure was needed. A in other areas that lure was gold. Michael Leahy, an Australian prospector from rural Queensland, is believed to have been the first European to make contact with the highlands tribes in the interior). Leahy and his brother Dan began looking for gold. They explored the highlands with Patrol Officer James Taylor (1932-36). Leahy kept a diary and took photographs used in a fascinating documentary--'First contact'. The War turned this isolated island into a major battlefield--the longest campaign of the Pacific War (1942-44). After Pearl Harbor the Japanese began landing along the northern coast of New Guinea, occupying all but the eastern tip of the island. This This and Port Moresby were to be taken by an amphibious operation, but was turned back by American carriers in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942). Blocked at sea, the Japanese attempted an overland invasion across the rugged Owen Stanley Mountains. They were stopped by Australian Infantry a few miles outside of Port Moresby. The Allies then began an extended drive up the northern coast of the Island lasting more than 2 years. The Australian Government suspended civil administration. The Island was governed by a military administration based in Port Moresby, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur occasionally set up his headquarters. After the Japanese surrender, the north east and southeast was joined in an administrative union. Western New Guinea was restored to Dutch control and this became Indonesian territory after that colony won independence (1949). This established the modern configuration of New Guinea.

Pre-History

New Guinea was settled as part of the first migration out of Africa (60,000-%0,000 BP). The people are now known as Melanesians. They passed through Southeast Asia before the modern population arrived. As it was during the Ice Age, ocean levels were lower and distances between modern islands were shorter or non existent. Thus what is New Guinea and Australia were one of the first landmasses after Africa and southern Eurasia to be populated by modern humans. Modern new Guineans thus can claim to be dome of the oldest continuous cultures on the planet.

Discovery

New Guinea was among the most isolated places on the planet with virtually no contact with the outside world. The island was discovered from a fairly early point of the European maritime expansion into Oceania, but there was no settlement or colonization. Portuguese and Spanish navigators sailing in the South Pacific were probably the first Europeans to sight New Guinea (16th century). Don Jorge de Meneses, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the island (about 1526-27). Although various European navigators visited and explored New Guinea and nearby islands, there was no colonization.

Colonization

The Dutch as part of their colonization of the East Indies (Indonesia) claimed the western part of the island. The eastern part of the island (modern Papua) was not colonized until later (late-19th century). And here there was a difference between the north and south. The Germans claimed the northeastern part of New Guinea (1884). They also acquired other isasnds north and east of New Guinea. The late colonization reflected the general European assessment as to the value of Mew Guinea. Germany authorized a chartered company to administer its new colony. The Imperial government took direct control (1899). The German Pacific possessions changed hands in World War I. Australian forces troops occupied German New Guinea and it remained under Australian military control (until 1921). After the War, the new League of Nations introduced a whole new concept to European colonization--the mandate. A League mandated obligated the mandate power to govern in the best interests of the population and prepare them for independence. The British Government, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, assumed a mandate from the League of Nations for governing the Territory of New Guinea (1920). At the time the independence of Australia was still evolving. That mandate was administered by the Australian Government until the Japanese World War II invasion (1942). The British reacting to the German action in the north, proclaimed a protectorate over southeastern New Guinea (which they called Papua and its adjacent islands. The protectorate, was annexed outright (1888). It was transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia (1902). The Papua Act of 1905, changed British New Guinea to the Territory of Papua, beginning the formal Australian administration (1906). This continued until the Pacific War (1941-45). Dutch, German, British and Australian colonial control primarily affected the coastal areas. Few Europeans ventured into the rugged and often hostile interior. And as might be expected a strong lure was needed. A in other areas that lure was gold. Michael Leahy, an Australian prospector from rural Queensland, is believed to have been the first European to make contact with the highlands tribes in the interior). Leahy and his brother Dan began looking for gold. They explored the highlands with Patrol Officer James Taylor (1932-36). Leahy kept a diary and took photographs used in a fascinating documentary--'First contact'.

World War II

The War turned this isolated island into a major battlefield--the longest campaign of the Pacific War (1942-44). After Pearl Harbor the Japanese began landing along the northern coast of New Guinea, occupying all but the eastern tip of the island. This and Port Moresby were to be taken by an amphibious operation, but was turned back by American carriers in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942). Blocked at sea, the Japanese attempted an overland invasion across the rugged Owen-Stanley Mountains. They were stopped by Australian Infantry a few miles outside of Port Moresby. The Allies then began an extended drive up the northern coast of the Island lasting more than 2 years. The Australian Government suspended civil administration. The Island was governed by a military administration based in Port Moresby, where Gen. Douglas MacArthur occasionally set up his headquarters.

Political Division

After the Japanese surrender, the north east and southeast was joined in an administrative union. Western New Guinea was restored to Dutch control and this became Indonesian territory after that colony won independence (1949). This established the modern configuration of New Guinea.

Created: 5:59 AM 3/14/2010
Last updated: 1:21 AM 8/29/2025