Brief History The British Territory of Papua had an area of about 90,540 square miles and a population estimated at 400,000, of whom about 600 were Europeans. The Protectorate, as declared in 1884, with its seat of government at Port Moresby, was subsidized by the three Australian colonies of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and lasted, under the administration of two successive special commissioners (Major-General Sir Peter Scratchley and the Hon. John Douglas), till the 4th of September 1888, when it was proclaimed by the first Administrator Lieutenant-Governor Sir William MacGregor, a possession of Queen Victoria. Its constitution was that of a crown colony in association with Queensland; but in 1901 the federal government took control of the territory and in 1906 a proclamation by the governor-general of the commonwealth gave it the name of the Territory of Papua.

Imperial Flag Imperial map of British New Guinea Images of British New Guinea Administrators of British New Guinea 1883 - 1975 Audio The BBC's Tales from the Commonwealth explores the legacy of the Empire for Papua New Guinea. Check For British New Guinea Items