History of Rabaul & East New Britain
East New Britain is the home of two distinct cultural groups. The Tolai people live in the area immediately surrounding Rabaul and Kokopo towns whilst the Baining people live further away from the towns in the area of the Baining Mountains. The Tolai's are thought to have migrated from New Ireland approximately 300 years ago.
In 1700, William Dampier passed by and not recognising the body of water as a channel named it St. George's Bay. In 1767, Captain Philip Carteret renamed this St George's Channel when he was forced into the 'bay' by strong currents and the prevailing southeast winds. He also named the mountains of Rabaul as the Mother and Daughters. The Mother being the highest peak with the South Daughter and North Daughter on either side.
In 1873, J.C. Godeffroy and Sons and Hernsheim Traders established trading posts in the Bismarck Archipelago. Dr George Brown a Methodist missionary, landed at on the Duke of York Islands in 1875. Queen Emma Forsayth who was born in Samoa in 1850 of Samoan and American parentage sailed to Duke of York Islands and established a trading station with her partner Thomas Farrell. On 3rd November 1884, this area officially became part of Germany when they annexed the Bismarck Archipelago and northeast New Guinea. In 1904 Herbertshohe (which is now the township of Kokopo) became the headquartes of the German Empire in the Pacific Islands. Dr Albert Hahl, Governor of German New Guinea recognising the natural harbour that Rabaul harbour presented moved the administration center and built the township of Rabaul. A period of prosperity continued until the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914.
During the years preceding World War 1 the German administration had built a chain of wireless stations throughout the Pacific. Britain wanted these to be neutralised and asked the Australian Government to assist. The Australians sent their newly formed "Australian Naval and Military Expeditionay Force to East New Britain and on the 11th September 1914 the first Australian fatality of World War 1 - Able Seaman W.G.V. Willaims was killed near Kabakaul during the taking of the wireless station. At the end of World War 1 the Mandated Territory of New Guinea was adminsitrated by the Commonwealth of Australia with it's administration headquarters in Rabaul. After the 1937 eruptions the administration center was moved to Lae in 1941.
On 23rd January,1942 the Japanese fleet sailed into Rabaul harbour and set up its headquarters which commanded the overall Japanese command of the land operations in New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and the Solomon Islands commanded by General Hitoshi Imamura. During this time Tavuvur continued to erupt till 1943. On 6th September 1945, General Imamura surrendered to the Australian Army on board HMS Glory in Kabanga Bay outside Rabaul.
After 1945, New Guinea was again administrated by the Commonwealth of Australia. In 1974 Papua and New Guinea were given self governance by Australia and became an the independent nation of Papua New Guinea in 1975.
East New Britain's economy relies heavily on the agricultural industry. The province produces and exports copra oil from coconuts and cocoa beans. Our cocoa beans are exported to several countries as well as Germany and is regarded as a very high grade product. Recently, balsa trees have been grown and the wood is exported to Europe and Australia. Lowlands Experimental Agricultural Station was extablished in 1917 and has produced several types of hybrid cocoa. Recently, Vudal Agricultrial College has become a University.