The transfer of Dutch New Guinea to Indonesian control in 1963 marked the abrupt end of one of the most promising experiments in decolonisation in the Pacific. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Netherlands had begun preparing the Papuan people for a future of self-government, establishing representative institutions Read more
In November 1961, Dutch and Australian authorities jointly undertook one of the most extensive search operations ever mounted in Dutch New Guinea. The mission followed the disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, son of the then–Governor of New York, Nelson Rockefeller, whose loss drew international attention to the remote Asmat coast in Read more
In the early 1950s, Resident Karel Knödler of South New Guinea crossed the frontier into Australian-administered Papua New Guinea. His visit offers a rare first-hand Dutch view of daily life and administration across the colonial border that once divided the island. A cordial exchange across the frontier Karel Knödler had Read more
In the decade following the Second World War, the Netherlands and Australia shared the vast island of New Guinea as neighbouring colonial powers. The western half, Netherlands New Guinea (DNG), remained under Dutch administration, while the eastern half, the Territory of Papua and New Guinea (TPNG), was administered by Australia Read more
In September 1945, as Japan’s capitulation brought the Second World War to an end, Australia was tasked with overseeing the surrender of tens of thousands of Japanese troops scattered across the islands of New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies. These operations were not limited to Australian territories. In neighbouring Read more
From 1947 to 1962, the Netherlands and Australia both belonged to the same regional organisation, the South Pacific Commission (SPC). The Commission was created by the Canberra Agreement of 1947, signed by six administering powers with dependent territories in the Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, the United Read more
The history of Dutch New Guinea is closely bound up with Australia, especially in the turbulent years after the Second World War. Few individuals illustrate this better than Piet Johannes Merkelijn, a civil administrator whose career spanned the Netherlands, Australia and Dutch New Guinea. His experiences highlight both the personal Read more
In the 1950s, air travel played an important role in linking the two halves of New Guinea, one administered by the Netherlands and the other by Australia. Although most airline services stayed within their own territories, there were a few notable cross-border connections. One involved the Australian bush company Gibbes Read more
The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) was established in Australia in April 1944 by the Netherlands Indies Government-in-Exile. Its purpose was to prepare for the restoration of civil administration in territories recovered from Japanese occupation. Preparing personnel for this task involved several locations and organisations in Australia. NICA operated a Read more
In the final years of Dutch administration in New Guinea, the Netherlands and Australia sought to establish a common development policy across the island. These conferences, held between 1959 and 1960, symbolised an ambitious vision of regional cooperation in health, education, infrastructure and administration. Yet they were also shaped by Read more