Morobe Province: History
=== Nomenclature ===
The Morobe Province takes its name from former German administration center of Morobe southeast of the Lae. Under German administration, Morobe (meaning post) was named Adolfhafen for the German Deutsch Neuguinea-Kompagnie's Adolf von Hansemann and German word hafen (heɪfən) meaning port) and was an outpost of the Deutsch Neuguinea-Kompagnie era. It was located close to the border of British New Guinea.
While there have been various attempts to examine the history of Morobe Province, the works of Ian Willis and Phillip Holzknecht can be summarised below;
1793 Antoine Bruni d'Entrecasteaux sailed up tail of New Guinea into the Gulf he named Huon de Kermadec
1856 Italian Catholic priests arrived at Mandok Island, Siassi, before disease forced him to leave.
1874 John Moresby on HMS Basilisk sails along Huon Gulf and names Parsee Point (Salamaua), the Markham, Rawlinson Ranges, and explores around the Markham's mouth.
1884 Otto Finsch on `Samoa' explores New Guinea under Deutsche Neuguinea-Kompagnie and selects Finschhafen as the best site for company settlement. The same year, Northeast New Guinea and its Offshore islands were claimed by Germany, while Britain claimed Southeast New Guinea. (later Papua)
1886 Georg von Schlientz, a New Guinea company representative arrives in Finschhafen to set up settlement on Madang Island. He undertakes exploration along the coast and names areas with prominent German names. He states that one-day the Markham mouth will become an important port for trade. Martin Dreger explores the Huon Gulf on `Samoa' and travels upstream on the Markham and saw villagers, who were willing to trade for iron. During the same year Lutheran missionary Johann Flierl arrives in Simbang.
1887 The Deutsche Neuguinea-Kompagnie abandons Finschhafen because of malaria and decides to move to [Friedrich-Wilhelms-Hafen/Madang|with an agricultural station at nearby Stephensort/Bogadjim]. The Lutheran mission stayed on in Finschhafen and expanded its influence along coastal villages.
1900 Deutsche Neuguinea-Kompagnie land acquisition in Lae.
1907 Lae Wampar raid villages at Lae and Labu.
1909 Stephen Lehner and Dr. Neuhauss visit Lae Wampar to establish peace among the warring tribes.
1910–11 Ten Lutheran mission stations, including Lae and Gabmatzung among the Lae Wampar were established.
1913 Burgberg (Lae) gazetted as a patrol post, Morobe was still a German government outpost.
1914 Australian Military Occupation of former German New Guinea as a result of the outbreak of World War I.
1921–1925 Civil Administration restored in New Guinea as an Australian Mandated Territory for the League of Nations.
1926 Gold is discovered in Eddie Creek, near Wau. There was a gold rush. Salamaua becomes a port of call for all activities relating to Wau gold fields.
1937 Lae becomes the capital of New Guinea, replacing Rabaul.
1942 Japanese bomb Lae, Salamaua and Bulolo on 21 January. Japanese land in Lae on 8 March.
1942–1945 War arrives in New Guinea and there is a military administration in the Territory. …