Samarai

Samarai Island

Samarai Island
Geography
Location	Oceania
Coordinates	10°37′19″S 150°40′55″E / 10.62194°S 150.68194°E / -10.62194; 150.68194Coordinates: 10°37′19″S 150°40′55″E / 10.62194°S 150.68194°E / -10.62194; 150.68194
Archipelago	Louisiade Archipelago
Adjacent bodies of water	Solomon Sea
Total islands	1
Major islands	Samarai
Area	0.29 km2 (0.11 sq mi)
Length	0.8 km (0.5 mi)
Width	0.4 km (0.25 mi)
Coastline	2.31 km (1.435 mi)
Highest elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Administration
Papua New Guinea
Province	Milne Bay
Island Group	Samarai Islands
Ward	split
Largest settlement	Samarai (population 460)
Demographics
Demonym	Papuan people
Population	460 (2014)
Pop. density	1,580 /km2 (4,090 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Papauans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
Official website	www.ncdc.gov.pg
ISO Code = PG-MBA

Samarai is an island and former administrative capital in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

The island is historically significant as the site of a trading port and stop-over between Australia and East Asia. Samarai town was established on the island and at its height was the second largest after Port Moresby in the Territory of Papua.

The town of Samarai was ordered to be destroyed by the British during World War II, fearing Japanese occupation. Although rebuilt after the war, and functioning as provincial headquarters until 1968, economic changes meant that Samarai did not fully regain its regional status and it has since largely fallen into disrepair. The island was declared a National Historical Heritage Island by the government of Papua New Guinea in 2006.

Located off the south-eastern tip of New Guinea in the China Strait Samarai has an area of just 285,000 square metres (70 acres) or 29 hectares. At the census of population 2014, the island had a population of 460, making it one of the most densely populated islands in the area. The island is part of the Samarai Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago.

The island was discovered by Captain John Moresby whilst commanding HMS Basilisk in 1873. Moresby originally called the island Dinner Island, after having a meal on it. Five years later in 1878 the Rev. S. MacFarlane of the London Missionary Society established a mission station on the island. A government officer was posted to the island after a protectorate had been declared over British New Guinea.

In 1884 a trader and sixty Papuans established a beach front store for passing ships. In the early years a large malarious swamp caused health problems for Samarai, but this was improved after 1898 when it was filled in. After the annexation of British New Guinea in 1888, Samarai became the headquarters of an administrative district. A court was subsequently established and a magistrate posted.