On a bright morning in the south pacific, the sun glints off the tranquil waters of Fairfax Harbour. Fairfax Harbour, a name forever etched in the annals of Papua New Guinea’s history. It is a place where the echoes of the past intertwine with the vibrancy of the present. Long before the arrival of European explorers, Fairfax Harbour served as a vital waterway for the Motu and Koitabu people, who navigated its waters in their lakatois, skillfully crafted double-hulled canoes.
The harbour we see today was charted in 1873 by Captain John Moresby, a British naval officer who named it after his father, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby. During World War II, Fairfax Harbour became a strategic battleground in the Pacific theater. As a crucial Allied base, the harbour witnessed numerous bombing raids by the Japanese, determined to cripple the Allied forces’ supply lines. The scars of this conflict, though faded, serve as a poignant reminder of the resilience and courage displayed by those who fought to protect this strategic waterway.
Today, Fairfax Harbour is a bustling hub of activity, a far cry from its wartime past. The once echoing silence is now replaced by the rhythmic hum of engines as cargo ships, ferries, and fishing vessels ply its waters. Look across the harbour and you’ll see Tatana Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway built by African American soldiers during World War II. This causeway, initially a single-vehicle track, stands as a testament to the contributions made by these brave soldiers, far from their homeland.