Territory of Papua and New Guinea

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Not to be confused with Territory of Papua.
Administrative Union of the Territory of Papua and the Territory of New Guinea
1949–1975
Anthem: 
English creoles
German creoles
Demonym(s)Papua New Guineans, Papuans
Monarch 
• 1949–1952
George VI
• 1952–1975
Elizabeth II
Administrator
 
• 1949–1952 (first)
Jack Keith Murray
• 1974–1975 (last)
Tom Critchley
Chief Minister 
• 1972–1975 (last)
Michael Somare
LegislatureLegislative Council (1949–1963)
House of Assembly (1963–1975)
History 
1 July 1949
• Self-governing
1 December 1973
16 September 1975
Currency
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Territory of New Guinea
Territory of Papua
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Republic of the North Solomons
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History of Papua New Guinea
National emblem of Papua New Guinea
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The Territory of Papua and New Guinea, officially the Administrative Union of the Territory of Papua and the Territory of New Guinea, was established by an administrative union between the Australian-administered territories of

Independent State of Papua New Guinea.[2]

Background

Ancient history

Archeological evidence suggests that humans arrived on New Guinea around 50,000 years ago.[3] These Melanesian people developed stone tools and agriculture. Portuguese and Spanish navigators sailing in the South Pacific entered New Guinea waters in the early part of the 16th century and in 1526–27, Jorge de Menezes came upon the principal island "Papua". In 1545, the Spaniard Iñigo Ortiz de Retes gave the island the name "New Guinea" because of what he saw as a resemblance between the islands' inhabitants and those found on the African Guinea coast. Knowledge of the interior of the island remained scant for several centuries after these initial European encounters.

Colonisation and World Wars

In 1884, Germany formally took possession of the northeast quarter of the island and it became known as

Commonwealth of Australia in 1902 and British New Guinea became the Australian Territory of Papua, with Australian administration beginning in 1906.[4]

The

League of Nations Mandates: territories "formerly governed [by the Central Powers] and which are inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world".[7]

Shortly after the start of the

Japanese surrender
in 1945.

Establishment of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea

Following the

international trusteeship system and confirmed the administrative union of New Guinea and Papua under the title of The Territory of Papua and New Guinea. It also provided for a Legislative Council (which was established in 1951), a judicial system, a public service, and a system of local government.[4] The House of Assembly replaced the Legislative Council in 1963, and the first House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea
opened on 8 June 1964.

In 1963, the population was approximately two million, of which about 25,000 were non-indigenous. The economy was based on cash crops including coffee, cocoa, and copra as well as timber mills, wharves and factories. Difficult terrain rendered communication between districts difficult and there was a lack of national unity in the territory.[10]

One of the ways in which the territory was administered was through the use of patrol officers. Between 1949 and 1974, more than 2000 Australians served as patrol officers, known locally as "kiaps". The job of patrol officers involved: facilitating the consolidation of administrative influence, maintaining the rule of law, conducting court cases and presiding as Magistrate, carrying out police work, conducting censuses, encouraging economic development, providing escorts, purchasing land for governmental use and overseeing local elections.[11]

Towards independence

On 13 December 1971 the name of the territory was changed to Papua New Guinea.

Independent State of Papua New Guinea and attained independence on 16 September 1975.[12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Prior to a day before 1975 Independent State of Papua New Guinea from Australia
  2. ^ a b "Papua New Guinea Act 1971". Australia Federal Register of Legislation. 13 December 1971. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  3. ISBN 9781921536601
    . Retrieved 10 December 2015. Prehistorians do not agree how long humans have occupied the Sahul continent (Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania). The figure of 50,000 years used here is a compromise between the shorter time period of about 45,000 years argued by some scholars and the longer one of 50,000–60,000 years argued by others.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Papua New Guinea". State.gov. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  5. ^ "First World War 1914–18 | Australian War Memorial". Awm.gov.au. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Remembering the war in New Guinea – Why were the Japanese were in New Guinea". Ajrp.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  7. ^ Duffy, Michael (22 August 2009). "Primary Documents – Treaty of Versailles: Articles 1–30 and Annex". First World War.com. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Remembering the war in New Guinea – How many died?". Ajrp.awm.gov.au. 9 August 1942. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Wartime Issue 23 – New Guinea Offensive | Australian War Memorial". Awm.gov.au. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  10. ^ Smithers (1963). "Law and the Territory of Papua and New Guinea" (PDF). Melbourne University Law Review.
  11. ^ corporateName=National Museum of Australia; address=Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula. "National Museum of Australia - Norm Wilson Papua New Guinea collection". www.nma.gov.au. Retrieved 30 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ninemsn. Australian Associated Press. 13 September 2009. Archived from the original
    on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  13. ^ "In office – Gough Whitlam – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers". Primeministers.naa.gov.au. Retrieved 4 March 2012.

Further reading

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