Chinatown | |
|---|---|
Suburb | |
 Panoramic photo of Chinatown Lae. Facing toward Voco Point. Mt Lunaman | |
  Chinatown Location in Lae | |
| Coordinates: 6°43′43″S147°0′5″E / 6.72861°S 147.00139°E Coordinates: 6°43′43″S147°0′5″E / 6.72861°S 147.00139°E | |
| Country |  Papua New Guinea |
| Province | Morobe |
| District | Lae |
| Time zone | UTC+10 (AEST) |
Chinatown is a suburb of Lae in the Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Chinese people of the Territory came originally from the Kwantang Province of South-east China. They came as worker immigrants in the German regime before 1914. [1] After 1930, trade stores were established mostly by the Chinese, that catered for New Guinean needs rather than those of the Europeans. [2] The Chinese presence created a buffer zone between the Europeans and New Guineans and furthermore established Chinatown settlements. [3]
In October,[ clarification needed ] Captain N. E. Brand of the 10th Field Ambulance [4] and ten ORs ran an evacuation post in Chinatown Lae [5] and on 8 September 1943, six 65th BS B-17s bombed Chinatown, a concentration of buildings and supplies at Lae. Encountering no anti-aircraft fire or enemy fighter opposition, the 65th BS historian wrote:
Lyndon B. Johnson was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve on 21 June 1940. Eleven B-26 Marauders of the 22nd Bomb Group departed Townsville on 8 June 1942, arrived in Port Moresby and raided Lae on 9 June 1942. The mission was called "TOW 9" and Lieutenant Commander Johnson, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer on the aircraft, the Heckling Hare. [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] Nine days after the raid, Lyndon Johnson was awarded a Silver Star medal for his participation in the above bombing raid. [7] [8] [9]
After the war the Chinese were settled on leased land in Chinatown but in the latter years some have moved out and built modern premises in the lower terrace, in the main commercial area and on the edge of the upper terrace facing the Lae Airfield. [10] In 1963, the Chinatown residential area was scheduled for replacement. According to the Canberra Times :
By the early 1970s the Chinese took advantage of their elevated status as "white" Australians by engaging in larger-scale commercial businesses. They opened supermarkets and large general stores that catered to local consumers of European descent and Australian tourists. Many also purchased land and operated plantations of coffee, coconut and tea. One successful Chinese merchant in Lae even started a chartered airlines company. [12]
Long time businessman and Papua New Guinea citizen, Sir Ling James Seeto claims that the Chinese were first recruited into the country by the Germans to do carpentry work, build boats, plumbing and other menial work. In the 1970s China town was well and truly established and trade stores were everywhere with many Chinese restaurants. [13] [lower-alpha 3]
At the base of Mount Lunaman at the southern and south-eastern face are the suburbs of Voco Point and Chinatown. The terraces are located to the West of Mount Lunaman.
Mount Lunaman is 96 meters high and has a radio tower at the highest point marked by red fixed obstruction lights to assist navigation. [14] At the base of Mount Lunaman at the southern and south-eastern face are the suburbs of Voco Point and Chinatown. The terraces are located to the West of Mount Lunaman.
Mount Lunaman is known to the locals as Lo' Wamung, which means "first hill", [15] Hospital Hill [16] and Fortress Hill by the German settlers. [17]
Mount Lunaman and the Lae urban area have been the subject of several tectonic studies relating to plate shift. [18]
Mount Lunaman was an important landmark for both Japanese and the Allies:
After the war it was believed that Mount Lunaman contained the remains of many Japanese soldiers who defended Lae using tunnels:
Mount Lunaman and the Lae urban area has been the subject of several tectonic studies relating to plate shift. [18]
The Lae Chinese Club is located in Chinatown. The Lae Squash Racquet Association was established 1967 at the Chinese Club and has 2 glass courts and 4 squash courts and 2 tennis and 2 netball courts. [21] The Lae (Lahi) Netball Association is also located at the Chinese Club and at one stage was the second largest competition in Papua New Guinea. [22]
In 1962, Mrs. Flora Shaw Stewart (1886–1979) established Morobe Theatres Ltd and constructed a modern picture theatre, which opened in 1963. [23]
On 12 May 2009, Port Moresby experienced an anti-Asian demonstration following similar demonstrations in the Solomon Islands. The riots spread to Lae, Madang, Goroka, Kainantu and Mount Hagen targeting trade stores and kai (food) bars. Four Papua New Guinean nationals and three ethnic Chinese died during the riots, which were particularly violent in Lae and Mt Hagen. [24] Before 10am, all shops, Chinese and local, all over the city were forced to close in fear of being looted. [25]
The Huonville International Primary School is located in Chinatown.
Lae is the capital of Morobe Province and is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located near the delta of the Markham River and at the start of the Highlands Highway, which is the main land transport corridor between the Highlands region and the coast. Lae is the largest cargo port of the country and is the industrial hub of Papua New Guinea. The city is known as the Garden City and home of the University of Technology.
Morobe Province is a province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital and largest city is Lae. The province covers 33,705 km2, with a population of 674,810, and since the division of Southern Highlands Province in May 2012 it is the most populous province. It includes the Huon Peninsula, the Markham River, and delta, and coastal territories along the Huon Gulf. The province has nine administrative districts. At least 101 languages are spoken, including Kâte and Yabem language. English and Tok Pisin are common languages in the urban areas, and in some areas pidgin forms of German are mixed with the native language.
The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team represents Papua New Guinea in the team sport of Australian rules football. It is one of the nation's most successful sporting teams, currently ranked 2nd in the world behind Australia.
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The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised as a unit of the Militia from white Australian and European expatriates in New Guinea upon the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, before being activated for full-time service following the Japanese landings in early 1942. NGVR personnel then helped rescue survivors of Lark Force from Rabaul in February and March 1942. Between March and May, the NGVR monitored the Japanese bases which had been established in the Huon Gulf region, being the only Allied force in the area until the arrival of Kanga Force at Wau in May. The battalion subsequently established observation posts overlooking the main approaches and reported on Japanese movements.
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