Papua New Guinea Genealogy

Pacific Island Guide &gt;  Papua New Guinea



General Information
Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, just north of Australia, and many outlying islands. The Indonesian province of West Papua (Irian Jaya) is to the west. To the north and east are the islands of Manus, New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville, all part of Papua New Guinea. Papaua New Guinea is part of the Melanesia region of the Pacific.

Historical Background
about 500 BC Austronesian speaking people arrived in coastal areas bringing pottery, pigs, and fishing techniques. 1526 European discovery of Papua New Guinea by Portuguese explorer Dom Jorge de Meneses. about 1700 Sweat potatoes from South America were introduced by the Portuguese, which replaced taro, and allowed an increase in the population, especially in the highlands. 1883 Queensland, Australia annexed the southern part of the island of New Guinea (later called Papua). 1884 Germany took control of the northwest part of New Guinea and nearby islands (then called German New Guinea). 1914 World War I Australian troops captured German New Guinea including the nearby associated islands. 1942-1945 World War II Japanese and Allied forces fight over Bougainville, New Britain, and New Guinea. Cargo cult activity by natives used magic and mock airfields and control towers in attempts to attract parachute drops. 1949 The two territories of Papua, and New Guinea were combined. 1975 Papua New Guinea was granted independence. 1975 Bougainville uprising, began decades of secessionist strife and civil war. This resulted in the closing of the economically important, but environmentally harmful Panguna copper mine.

Research Tools

 * Portal: Papua New Guinea in FamilySearch Research Wiki
 * Papua New Guinea GenWeb part of the Pacific GenWeb.