A tree-kangaroo. The kangaloos inhabit the tropical rainforests of New Guinea. *Photo from Wikipedia
September 16 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Papua New Guinea from Australia in 1975.
Little was known in Europe about the island until the 19th century, although Portuguese and Spanish explorers had encountered it as early as the 16th century.
In the 19th century, Germany ruled the northern half of the country as a colony for some decades, beginning in 1884, as German New Guinea. The southern half was colonized in the same year by the United Kingdom as British New Guinea. With the Papua Act 1905, it transferred this territory to the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia, which took on its administration.
Early in World War I, German New Guinea was captured by Australian forces in a small military campaign, and after the war was given to Australia to administer as a League of Nations Mandate.
After World War II, the two territories were combined into the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, which later was simply referred to as “Papua New Guinea”. The natives of Papua appealed to the United Nations for oversight and independence. The nation established independence from Australia on September 16, 1975, becoming a Commonwealth realm, continuing to share Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. It maintains close ties with Australia, which continues to be its largest aid donor.
After World War II, the two territories were combined into the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, which later was simply referred to as “Papua New Guinea”. The natives of Papua appealed to the United Nations for oversight and independence. The nation established independence from Australia on September 16, 1975, becoming a Commonwealth realm, continuing to share Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. It maintains close ties with Australia, which continues to be its largest aid donor.
Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is an Oceanian country that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. The western half of New Guinea forms the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.
*Reference: Wikipedia
