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This gallery will show photos of Papua New Guinea and its people taken between 1966 and 1973 as seen through the lenses of National Service soldiers serving in PNG. It also shows other photos of interest in other pre-independence periods
Educational Corps prior to the National Service era
Captain Ian Bayles RAAEC teaching locally enlisted recruits English in TP&NG in 1959/60 when it was still part of Northern Command. Captain Bayles was attached to 1PIR serving at Taurama Barracks, while living at Murray Barracks with his family. He also taught recruits at Goldie River when the facilities there were constructed from local building materials, including bush timber and sak-sak matting walls. The Australian defence forces there later became PNG Command during the period when National Service chalkies conducted similar instruction before becoming the PNGDF in 1973 prior to Independence in 1975.
Rabaul and surrounding volcanoes including the harbour which was a flooded caldera as they were in 1967. In 1994, Rabaul was partly destroyed, mainly from thick ash which still covers sections of the town. The harbour remains as beautiful and functional as before. The administration capital has moved to nearby Kokopo.
Rabaul and Harbour with the airfield in the background – Sep 67
Typical street, Rabaul – Sep 67
Bitapaka War Cemetery, near Rabaul – Sep 67
Tombstones, Bitapaka War Cemetery, near Rabaul – Sep 67
Beehives which appeared in 1937 which showed the harbour was the caldera of an active volcano, Rabaul – Sep 67
Beehives in harbour up close, Rabaul – Sep 67
Rabaul with volcano that erupted in 1937 – Sep 67
Rabaul Airport from crater lip (notice people on crater lip), Rabaul – Sep 67
Inside volcano crater, Rabaul – Sep 67
Yellow sulphur in volcano crater, Rabaul – Sep 67
Flying blind close to lava flow on a volcano – so close – on the way to Rabaul – Sep 67
This volcano grew from a small island in 1937, Rabaul – Sep 67
Rabaul airport – Sep 67
Army soldiers view Japanese War debris at Rabaul Harbour during Territory AFL Championships 1967
Rabaul volcanic eruption taken by a pilot mate of Dan Winkel in September 1994. Flattened the airport and some light aircraft. Emergency airport built through a plantation out on the Gazelle Peninsular. The place was covered with over 2m of ash and pumice. East New Britain capital moved from Rabaul to Kokopo.
Photos of men and women from the Western Highlands of PNG in all their finery at the Mt. Hagen Show in August 1967
Tribesmen with spears – Aug 67
Tribesmen in their finery – Aug 67
Ceremonial Dress – Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Mt Hagen tribesmen – Aug 67
Fierce Looking Tribesman – Mt Hagen show – Aug 67
Mt Hagen axe – Aug 67
Spear Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Headress and Drum Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
4 meris Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Bird of Paradise Headdress Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Bird of Paradise Headdress Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Tribesmen Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Family group Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
rear view of native dress Mt hagen Show – Aug 67
Yellow headdress Mt Hagen Show – Aug 67
Spectacular Red Headdress – Aug 67
19 Comments
It was great to see where i was born Rabaul dec 1965
I lived in Rabaul with my parents from 1959 till 1969, worked at “Dornay salon and great friends with the owners (Arthur brown) of the Ascot Hotel. Has anyone old photos of then?
any info appreciated
Thank you for these photos. I was told was born a week before the 1967 Hagen show. My birth was not in a hospital so no record of the exact birthday was kept. Mum told me I was born a week before the show week.
So I will appreciate anyone out there to give me the exact date of the show day. This information will help me to know my birthday.
Glad that you have kept such historical pictures for the great benefit of many including me. Times have changed and people and environment have changed. Mt. Hagen is a different place to the one in the photo. So very different.
What will this place be like in the next 50 plus years is my next question. Change is inevitable. Has always been and will always be.
We found a book on the show which states the 1967 Mt Hagen show was on the 19-20 August, 1967
Oh thank you so much. I really appreciate your response to my query above on the exact date for the 1967 show. Now I will be able to narrow down my date of birth ( month and year). Many thanks.
May I also ask if this book you referring to is available on line or not. I would love to have a copy and read it.
Thanks again.
Thanks for replying to my query and the confirmation of the existence of a book
Any one has pictures of Popondetta and anyone who has lived in Popondetta from 1960 to 1980 contact me ricky.nadu@gmail.com by email
Great to see the old photos of Rabaul where I worked in the Bank of NSW from 1960-1963. The Bank ran an agency at Kokopo which was a dangerous place when the infamous 1961 (or maybe it was 1962) riot (between the local natives and the Buka tribe) was taking place.
My Dad, Ken Murdoch was at Murray Barracks 57-59 and we have photos or PIR at that time if anyone is interested
Hi MARY, we were there at the same time in fact I remember you my father George Beard was at Taurama barracks with your dad. All the best Cliff my sister is Joyce.
Please searching for the old photos of East Sepik,( maprik the first house of Assembly) ,if anyone have please email me,psyie37@gmail.com
Thanks
I am sending you a couple of Photos of Michael Somare circa 1973 as he was from Sepik District… sorry, no other photos survived the Raskols breaking into my house and stealing the Steel sealed box with all my other photos!
I have some original black and white photos from the 1960’s ..6 all up. My grandmother lived and worked there and acquired these pics . My grandfather worked for Hornibrook Constructions as managing director.
Marvellous Photos here… not many people actually have surviving photos from thaT ERA in PNG. I certainly lost many from B&E’s by Raskols, thinking my metal box held money… THANKS! I am ex-PNGVR and ex-RAAF, now retired on a DVA Gold Card.
PNGDF Chalkies
After my Nasho Chalkie service at Goldie River 1972-73, I stayed on there as a Regular RAAEC LT for 1974. Later, I was posted back to PNG as a CAPT 1977-78 teaching Ag Sc at JSC Igam Bks. I served with three fine young PNGDF Education Officers LT Dauncey Wainetti (Highlander?), LT John Gabi Gabi (Papuan) and later Capt Paul Touvlon (Tolai?). I trust that they have all had good rewarding careers as the new PNG Chalkies. CO of JSC was LTCOL Tony Huai – did any Nasho Chalkies ever come across him in the early days? I have some prints from Goldie River and some slides from JSC in Lae that I can digitize and send.
JIm Connolly Goldie River 1972-74, Igam Barracks 1977-78)
Jim, a great snap-shot of your service in PNG. We are interested in your digitised photos and maybe scanned prints. Also, your stories from Goldie or Igam. We know almost nothing about PNG Education Officers, for example. Please email to me (see Email address on Contacts page) when ready.
Hi Greg,
Many thanks for your letter and reference to this web site. Have found the site of great interest and the pics bring back many warm memories of my 12 years in PNG.
Please let me know your phone and private email contact on my attached email address . Joan and I get to Caloundra fairly often and would like to meet up with you and Christine for lunch.
Kind regards,
Murray Bladwell
Murray, thank you. I will send you an Email today.
Hi Jim, my Grandfather is Tony Huai, if you somehow get this can you reply to me we would really love to have those photos if you have any of him. Thanks heaps – Kaylene
It was great to see where i was born Rabaul dec 1965
I lived in Rabaul with my parents from 1959 till 1969, worked at “Dornay salon and great friends with the owners (Arthur brown) of the Ascot Hotel. Has anyone old photos of then?
any info appreciated
Thank you for these photos. I was told was born a week before the 1967 Hagen show. My birth was not in a hospital so no record of the exact birthday was kept. Mum told me I was born a week before the show week.
So I will appreciate anyone out there to give me the exact date of the show day. This information will help me to know my birthday.
Glad that you have kept such historical pictures for the great benefit of many including me. Times have changed and people and environment have changed. Mt. Hagen is a different place to the one in the photo. So very different.
What will this place be like in the next 50 plus years is my next question. Change is inevitable. Has always been and will always be.
We found a book on the show which states the 1967 Mt Hagen show was on the 19-20 August, 1967
Oh thank you so much. I really appreciate your response to my query above on the exact date for the 1967 show. Now I will be able to narrow down my date of birth ( month and year). Many thanks.
May I also ask if this book you referring to is available on line or not. I would love to have a copy and read it.
Thanks again.
Thanks for replying to my query and the confirmation of the existence of a book
James,
This book is in the Australian National Library in Canberra. You can view its detail at
https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6004857?lookfor=subject:%22Mount%20Hagen%20Show%20(1967)%22&offset=1&max=1
Any one has pictures of Popondetta and anyone who has lived in Popondetta from 1960 to 1980 contact me ricky.nadu@gmail.com by email
Great to see the old photos of Rabaul where I worked in the Bank of NSW from 1960-1963. The Bank ran an agency at Kokopo which was a dangerous place when the infamous 1961 (or maybe it was 1962) riot (between the local natives and the Buka tribe) was taking place.
My Dad, Ken Murdoch was at Murray Barracks 57-59 and we have photos or PIR at that time if anyone is interested
Hi MARY, we were there at the same time in fact I remember you my father George Beard was at Taurama barracks with your dad. All the best Cliff my sister is Joyce.
Please searching for the old photos of East Sepik,( maprik the first house of Assembly) ,if anyone have please email me,psyie37@gmail.com
Thanks
I am sending you a couple of Photos of Michael Somare circa 1973 as he was from Sepik District… sorry, no other photos survived the Raskols breaking into my house and stealing the Steel sealed box with all my other photos!
I have some original black and white photos from the 1960’s ..6 all up. My grandmother lived and worked there and acquired these pics . My grandfather worked for Hornibrook Constructions as managing director.
Marvellous Photos here… not many people actually have surviving photos from thaT ERA in PNG. I certainly lost many from B&E’s by Raskols, thinking my metal box held money… THANKS! I am ex-PNGVR and ex-RAAF, now retired on a DVA Gold Card.
PNGDF Chalkies
After my Nasho Chalkie service at Goldie River 1972-73, I stayed on there as a Regular RAAEC LT for 1974. Later, I was posted back to PNG as a CAPT 1977-78 teaching Ag Sc at JSC Igam Bks. I served with three fine young PNGDF Education Officers LT Dauncey Wainetti (Highlander?), LT John Gabi Gabi (Papuan) and later Capt Paul Touvlon (Tolai?). I trust that they have all had good rewarding careers as the new PNG Chalkies. CO of JSC was LTCOL Tony Huai – did any Nasho Chalkies ever come across him in the early days? I have some prints from Goldie River and some slides from JSC in Lae that I can digitize and send.
JIm Connolly Goldie River 1972-74, Igam Barracks 1977-78)
Jim, a great snap-shot of your service in PNG. We are interested in your digitised photos and maybe scanned prints. Also, your stories from Goldie or Igam. We know almost nothing about PNG Education Officers, for example. Please email to me (see Email address on Contacts page) when ready.
Hi Greg,
Many thanks for your letter and reference to this web site. Have found the site of great interest and the pics bring back many warm memories of my 12 years in PNG.
Please let me know your phone and private email contact on my attached email address . Joan and I get to Caloundra fairly often and would like to meet up with you and Christine for lunch.
Kind regards,
Murray Bladwell
Murray, thank you. I will send you an Email today.
Hi Jim, my Grandfather is Tony Huai, if you somehow get this can you reply to me we would really love to have those photos if you have any of him. Thanks heaps – Kaylene