History of Rabaul

Foundation and First Mentions

The city's history begins relatively recently, in the early 20th century. Rabaul was officially founded in 1910 by the German colonial administration, which decided to move the capital of its possessions here from the neighbouring settlement of Herbertshöhe (now Kokopo). The city's name is borrowed from the local Kuanua language and translates as "place of mangroves", which accurately described the swampy coastal area before active construction began.

Key Factors of Development

Several important circumstances contributed to the rapid development of the settlement:

• Geographic Location: The city is located on the edge of a massive volcanic caldera forming Simpson Harbour. It is one of the best and deepest natural harbours in the South Pacific, capable of accommodating large ocean-going vessels.
• Political Will: Germany's desire to strengthen its influence in the region, which is now occupied by Papua New Guinea, required the creation of a powerful administrative and logistics hub with developed port infrastructure.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In its early years, the city developed as a typical colonial outpost with European planning. The economy was based on trade and the export of copra produced on surrounding plantations. The Germans paid great attention to landscaping: wide streets were laid out, shady avenues were planted, and sturdy administrative buildings were constructed, some of which defined the city's appearance right up until subsequent historical upheavals.

Key Historical Milestones

• 1910: The German administration founds Rabaul and moves the colony's capital here, appreciating the strategic potential of Simpson Harbour.
• 1914: At the beginning of the First World War, the city comes under the control of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force.
• 1920: The League of Nations officially transfers administration of the territory to Australia, and the city is confirmed as the capital of the mandated territory.
• 1937: A powerful eruption of the Tavurvur and Vulcan volcanoes destroys a significant part of the buildings, killing more than 500 people.
• 1942: Japanese troops occupy the port, turning it into an impregnable fortress and one of the main military bases in the Pacific.
• 1945: After massive Allied bombings and the surrender of Japan, the city returns to Australian administration and begins to rebuild.
• 1975: With the declaration of independence of the state of Papua New Guinea, the city becomes the administrative centre of the East New Britain province.
• 1994: A catastrophic simultaneous eruption of two volcanoes destroys the airport and residential quarters, covering everything with a thick layer of ash.
• 1995: Due to the scale of destruction and the risk of new cataclysms, the provincial capital is moved to the neighbouring town of Kokopo.
• 2006: New activity from the Tavurvur volcano causes damage to surviving buildings, shattering windows with shockwaves within a radius of 12 kilometres.
• Present day: The city continues to function as an important seaport and tourist destination, attracting travellers with its military history and "lunar" landscapes.

Stages of City Development and Transformation

The history of the development of Rabaul is a series of ups, downs, destruction, and amazing adaptation to difficult natural conditions. Each era has left an indelible mark on the appearance and economy of this place.

• German planning and the "Garden City" concept (1910s).
  The first colonial architects laid the foundation of the urban grid, which can still be traced today. Wide avenues, such as the famous Mango Avenue, and abundant greenery were intended to make the tropical climate more comfortable for living. This urban planning decision defined the look of the centre for decades.
• Emergence as the trade hub of Oceania (1920–1930s).
  Thanks to the deep-water harbour, the city quickly turned into a key commercial centre of the region. The economic importance of the settlement rose sharply due to copra exports and servicing merchant ships, which attracted businessmen from Australia and China, forming a multicultural community.
• Creation of underground infrastructure (1942–1945).
  During the Japanese occupation, the city was transformed into a powerful military base. More than 500 kilometres of tunnels were dug, and bunkers and underground hospitals were built. This legacy radically changed the landscape and today forms the basis of military-historical tourism in the region.
• Post-war modernisation (1950–1980s).
  Reconstruction after the bombings secured the city's status as the main economic and educational centre of the islands. During this period, modern administrative buildings were erected and social infrastructure was developed to serve the entire province.
• Shift in administrative paradigm (1994–1995).
  The catastrophic volcanic eruption led to the forced relocation of the administrative centre to Kokopo. This event completely changed the economic model: from an administrative capital, the city turned into a specialised tourist site and a rotational settlement for port workers.
• Development of maritime logistics (Modernity).
  Despite the destruction of the residential sector, the port of Rabaul remains one of the most important in the state of Papua New Guinea. The deep Simpson Harbour continues to play a strategic role in resource exports and receiving cruise liners, which allows life to be sustained in the semi-ruined city.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The uniqueness of the appearance of Rabaul lies in the dramatic combination of remnants of former colonial luxury, harsh military fortification, and "lunar" landscapes created by volcanic ash. The urban structure, laid out more than a century ago, has been preserved only in the outlines of the streets, turning the city into an open-air museum where history is intertwined with the forces of nature.

Architectural Eras and Styles

The city's development was formed in waves, each corresponding to a specific historical period and prevailing style:

• Colonial tropical style (1910–1940s).
  The German administration and later the Australians built buildings taking into account the hot climate: high piles for ventilation, spacious verandas, and wide roof overhangs. The famous Mango Avenue was designed as a wide boulevard lined with shady trees, which corresponded to the European concept of a "garden city" adapted to the tropics.
• Military functionalism (1942–1945).
  The period of Japanese occupation left behind the architecture of war: massive concrete bunkers, observation posts, and a complex network of underground communications. These structures, devoid of decoration, were built to last and are today among the best-preserved objects in the region.
• Post-war modernism (1950–1990s).
  During the recovery period, Papua New Guinea experienced a construction boom. Concrete administrative and commercial buildings of simple geometric forms appeared in the city, characteristic of utilitarian architecture of the mid-20th century. Most of them, unfortunately, were destroyed or buried under ash in 1994.

Iconic Buildings and Surviving Structures

Despite the destructive eruptions, several iconic structures have been preserved (or restored) in the city, shaping its modern appearance:

• New Guinea Club. A historic building that survived the bombings of World War II. It serves as a vivid example of colonial architecture and now functions as a museum telling the history of the city.
• Admiral Yamamoto's Bunker. An example of Japanese fortification architecture. This is a modest, semi-underground concrete structure where, according to legend, the Japanese admiral spent his last hours before his fateful flight.
• Hamamas Hotel. One of the few buildings in the centre that was successfully restored after the 1994 eruption. It preserves the atmosphere of the old city and demonstrates the resilience of local architecture.

Notable Figures

The past of Rabaul is inextricably linked with the names of colonisers, military commanders, explorers, and politicians, whose activities defined the fate of the region.

• Albert Hahl (1868–1945)
  Governor of German New Guinea
  A key figure in the city's foundation. It was Dr Hahl who assessed the strategic advantage of the deep-water harbour and officially moved the colony's capital here in 1910, approving the master plan with wide avenues.
• Emma Coe Forsayth (1850–1913)
  Entrepreneur and Planter
  The legendary "Queen Emma", who created a vast trading empire and plantations in the vicinity of the city even before its official rise. Her activities laid the economic foundation of East New Britain.
• Isoroku Yamamoto (1884–1943)
  Admiral of the Japanese Fleet
  The architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor spent his final hours here. He flew from Rabaul on an inspection tour that ended in his death. The bunker where he worked is one of the most visited tourist sites.
• Sir John Kaputin (born 1941)
  Politician and Diplomat
  A native of the city and one of the founding fathers of the independent state of Papua New Guinea. He was an active participant in the Mataungan Association, which defended the rights of the indigenous Tolai people during the colonial period.
• Hitoshi Imamura (1886–1968)
  General of the Imperial Army
  Commander of the Japanese garrison during World War II. Known for organising a large-scale system of self-sufficiency for troops and tunnel construction, which allowed the base to function in complete isolation.
• Richard Parkinson (1844–1909)
  Ethnographer and Explorer
  A Danish scientist who lived in this area. Author of the fundamental work "Thirty Years in the South Seas", which became an invaluable source of knowledge about the culture, traditions, and daily life of the local tribes of the Bismarck Archipelago.