More flavour from the past brought to you by Aerothentic

The Papua Hotel was located not far behind Port Moresby's main wharf area, and during the war was considered by many to be the center of town. This particular photo was taken in late 1942.

In early 1942 defending Australian troops looted much of the town, including the hotel's silverware, when they felt that a Japanese invasion of Port Moresby was inevitable, a fact which not surprisingly was kept from the Australian public for years, and is little talked about today in Australia. When the Americans arrived they transformed the bar area into an officers club, and the modest ballroom was often used for sing-alongs and dances with nurses (when they were around which was rare). Amateur theater group performances were even held during the war in this hotel.

In the 1950s this modest building was replaced by a more impressive cement structure and the Papua Hotel still remained the town's center, a drinking hole for the mostly Australian expatriates who ran the post-war colonial administration of the country. Many annual balls were held there, right up until the late 1970s, including the Taxation Ball !

Alas, the Papua Hotel as was loved by many not longer exists and this part of central Port Moresby now has several skyscrapers instead, including the one which houses the ANZ Bank, former site of the Papuan Hotel..

OUR HERITAGE      SERVICES      PRODUCTS      HISTORICAL     HOME     CONTACT US   LINKS