British New Guinea: From Protectorate to Papua New Guinea

British New Guinea (later the Territory of Papua) was the southeastern quarter of the island of New Guinea under British, then Australian, administration from 1884 to 1975. It forms the southern part of today's Papua New Guinea.

Timeline

• 1828: Netherlands claims western half (Dutch New Guinea).
• 1884: Britain declares protectorate over southeast (British New Guinea); Germany takes northeast (Kaiser-Wilhelmsland) and islands.
• 1884–1902: Administered by Queensland (Australian colony).
• 1902: Transferred to new Commonwealth of Australia; renamed Territory of Papua.
• 1914: Australia occupies German New Guinea (WWI).
• 1921: League of Nations mandates former German territory to Australia (Territory of New Guinea).
• 1949: Papua + New Guinea united administratively as Territory of Papua and New Guinea.
• 1975: Independence as Papua New Guinea.

Distinction

"British Guinea" is an archaic term sometimes confused with British Guiana (now Guyana, South America). The New Guinea territory was never called "British Guinea" officially—always British New Guinea or Papua.

Legacy

English language, common law, parliamentary system, and Anglican/Catholic missions persist in PNG's southern region. The border with Indonesia (former Dutch New Guinea) follows the 141°E line agreed in 1895.