Independence of Papua New Guinea

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The nation of Papua New Guinea achieved its independence from Australia on 16 September 1975. Officiating at the main ceremony held in Port Moresby were His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (representing Queen Elizabeth II, the British monarch); Sir John Kerr, Governor-General of Australia; Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam; and Chief Minister of Papua New Guinea, Michael Somare, who became the country's first Prime Minister. The new country became a constitutional monarchy with membership of the British Commonwealth.

Australian administration, 1906–1975

Papua New Guinea was administered by Australia as a single territory from 1945. It comprised the former British protectorate of Papua – which had been an Australian territory since 1906 – and the former German colony of New Guinea, which became Australia's responsibility as a Mandated Territory of the League of Nations (1921–42) and a United Nations Trust Territory following World War II.



Territory administration was the responsibility of an Australian Government Administrator who reported to the Australian Department of External Territories (Department of Territories, 1951–68) and, from 1973, to the Papua New Guinea Office. From 1951, the Administrator was assisted by an appointed Legislative Council, which in 1964 was replaced by an elected House of Assembly. As a prelude to independence, Papua New Guinea became a self-governing territory on 1 December 1973.

Records about the independence of Papua New Guinea

The National Archives holds a wide range of records documenting the processes that led to Papua New Guinea independence. These include records of key agencies such as the Department of External Territories (and Territories), Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Attorney General’s Department. Photographs of independence day ceremonies and celebrations are also held.

Record series relating to Papua New Guinea

A selection of the National Archives holdings is listed below by series. You can find records of interest using RecordSearch – search using the series number shown and narrow results by using keywords such as 'papua new guinea' and 'papua new guinea independence'.

Administrative files

Department of External Territories / Department of Territories / Papua New Guinea Office (CA 1579)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1965–ongoing A9334

Department of External Affairs / Foreign Affairs (CA 5987)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1914–93 A1838

Australian High Commission, Port Moresby (CA 7733)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1965–ongoing A9334

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1903–ongoing A463
Correspondence files (classified) 1913–ongoing A1209
Whitlam ministries – Cabinet submissions 1972–75 A5915
Whitlam ministries – Cabinet files 1972–75 A5931

Attorney-General's Department (CA 5)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1901–ongoing A432
Correspondence files (classified) 1973–74 A5034

Photographs

Australian Information Service (CA 1578)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Black and white photographic negatives 1953–76 A1501
Contact print albums for VIP visits and other important occasions 1954–ongoing A8281
Black and white photographic negatives and prints 1971–ongoing A6180
Colour photographic negatives 1971–ongoing A8746

Selected records about Papua New Guinea independence

Key selected records held by the National Archives, many from the series given above, are listed below.

Collection references
Title or description of record Date range Series, item number
Papua New Guinea – Constitutional process for granting self-government or independence 1962–65 A432, 1962/3185
Papua New Guinea – future association with Australia on self-government or independence 1965–66 A452, 1965/3353
Preparation of Territory of Papua New Guinea for independence as a united country 1970–73 A1209, 1971/9229
Papua New Guinea – independence 1972–74 A452, 1973/205
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1971–72 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 1
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1972 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 2
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1972–73 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 3
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1973–74 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 4
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1974 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 5
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1974 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 6
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1974–75 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 7
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1975 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 8
Papua New Guinea – relations with Australia – transitional arrangements up to Independence 1975 A1838, 3080/10/1 part 9
Legal aspects of Papua New Guinea independence – general 1975–86 A1838, 1490/17/1 part 4
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1974–75 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 1
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 2
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 3
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 4
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 5
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 6
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 7
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 part 8
Papua New Guinea – Independence celebrations 1975 A1838, 3080/1/1/4/1 annex
Prime Minister's attendance at Papua New Guinea independence celebrations – briefing notes 1975 A1209, 1975/1780
Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975 (Assent copy) 1975 A1559, 1975/98
Independence gift for Papua New Guinea 1975 A5931, CL1626