PORT MORESBY

city and capital of Papua New Guinea, on the eastern shore of Port Moresby Harbour of the Gulf of Papua, whose built-up area is within the 93-sq-mi (240-sq-km) National Capital District. The harbour was explored in 1873 by Capt. (later Adm.) John Moresby, who named it for his father, Adm. Sir Fairfax Moresby. The British annexed the area in 1883-84, and the town became a main Allied base and a primary Japanese objective during World War II. After 1945, as the administrative capital of the Australian external territory of Papua and of the Australian-administered UN Trust Territory of New Guinea, it developed from a drab port into a well-planned city with modern amenities. The National Capital District, coterminous with the city of Port Moresby, was established in 1974. When Papua New Guinea attained independence in 1975, Port Moresby became its capital. Government buildings are located in both the city centre and outer suburbs. Water is supplied from Laloki River, site of a hydroelectric plant. There are radio and telegraph facilities, a university (University of Papua New Guinea, founded 1965), shipping services to Sydney and coastal ports, an international airport (Jackson's Airport), and a good network of all-weather roads to Sogeri, Kwikila, and Rouna Falls (a tourist centre). Bowana War Cemetery is nearby. The city's population includes a sizable Chinese community. Pop. (1990) 193,242.