Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
End of an era in Papua New Guinea history
Original photo of the Burns Philp building from the period 1910-1920
Papua Hotel 1955
Moresby Hotel 1955The burning down of the former Burns Philp building, a colonial icon in downtown Port Moresby on Sunday night, was indeed the end of an era.
It was quite tragic too as Nasfund, which owned the property, was planning to maintain this heritage building which played an important role in the development of Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea.
The building housed the Tribal Den nightclub, several shops including kai bars, an internet café and the National Narcotics Bureau office.
Joint Nasfund CEOs Rod Mitchell and Ian Tarutia said a statement would be forthcoming tomorrow after a board meeting.
“The Nasfund board will be meeting on Wednesday specifically to discuss the issue,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The chairman of Nasfund will make a statement after that meeting.
“Until then, we are unable to make comment although we express a deep sense of disappointment at the loss of this historical icon.”
Burns Philp was once the most-famous company in PNG and the Pacific, with stores in Port Moresby, Samarai, Lae and Goroka, among others.
As well as running all the major shipping routes between Australia and its neighbours, it also ran a huge network of integrated industries, shops and hardware for example.
Those who grew up in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s would remember the chain of ‘BP’ stores all over the country.
Last December, the former Burns Philp store in Lae was burned down, marking the end of an era in PNG’s second city.
The history of the Burn Philp building in Port Moresby goes back to 1891 when a store was first established in this colonial outpost, according to company history sourced from the internet.
James Burns had been running his shops in Queensland since 1867 but it was not until 1883 that Burns went into partnership with his former employee Robert Philp to form Burns Philp & Co.
In 1880, they had acquired the mail contract to run to Thursday Island and this was the beginning of an active interest in Melanesia and Polynesia which lasted until the late 20th century.
Over the course of these years Burns Philp and other companies which they held controlling interests in were intimately linked to the development of industry in the area.
In the 1880s, Burns Philp was involved in the labour trade which was known as "blackbirding" mainly at the behest of Robert Philp, who was also an aspiring politician but two official enquiries into conditions on board their ships the Heath and the Hopeful, coupled with a downturn in the sugar industry in 1886 led them to look for other ways of making money in Melanesia where most of the labour was recruited.
In 1891 they opened their first stores in New Guinea at Port Moresby and Samarai, setting in motion a brilliant Australian company.
They were the first company to offer tourism to New Guinea, in 1884, advertising the 'New Guinea Excursion Trip'.
This consisted of a five-week trip from Thursday Island and has been described as the "official beginning of tourist cruises in the South Pacific".
Acquisition of the Port Moresby Hotel occurred in 1914, with the Papua Hotel purchased some years later.
Burns Philp went out of existence on December 20, 2006, when all its shares were purchased by Rank Group Australia Pty Ltd
In 2007, Nasfund purchased 51% of the Burns Philp site in downtown Port Moresby.
It was quite tragic too as Nasfund, which owned the property, was planning to maintain this heritage building which played an important role in the development of Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea.
The building housed the Tribal Den nightclub, several shops including kai bars, an internet café and the National Narcotics Bureau office.
Joint Nasfund CEOs Rod Mitchell and Ian Tarutia said a statement would be forthcoming tomorrow after a board meeting.
“The Nasfund board will be meeting on Wednesday specifically to discuss the issue,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The chairman of Nasfund will make a statement after that meeting.
“Until then, we are unable to make comment although we express a deep sense of disappointment at the loss of this historical icon.”
Burns Philp was once the most-famous company in PNG and the Pacific, with stores in Port Moresby, Samarai, Lae and Goroka, among others.
As well as running all the major shipping routes between Australia and its neighbours, it also ran a huge network of integrated industries, shops and hardware for example.
Those who grew up in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s would remember the chain of ‘BP’ stores all over the country.
Last December, the former Burns Philp store in Lae was burned down, marking the end of an era in PNG’s second city.
The history of the Burn Philp building in Port Moresby goes back to 1891 when a store was first established in this colonial outpost, according to company history sourced from the internet.
James Burns had been running his shops in Queensland since 1867 but it was not until 1883 that Burns went into partnership with his former employee Robert Philp to form Burns Philp & Co.
In 1880, they had acquired the mail contract to run to Thursday Island and this was the beginning of an active interest in Melanesia and Polynesia which lasted until the late 20th century.
Over the course of these years Burns Philp and other companies which they held controlling interests in were intimately linked to the development of industry in the area.
In the 1880s, Burns Philp was involved in the labour trade which was known as "blackbirding" mainly at the behest of Robert Philp, who was also an aspiring politician but two official enquiries into conditions on board their ships the Heath and the Hopeful, coupled with a downturn in the sugar industry in 1886 led them to look for other ways of making money in Melanesia where most of the labour was recruited.
In 1891 they opened their first stores in New Guinea at Port Moresby and Samarai, setting in motion a brilliant Australian company.
They were the first company to offer tourism to New Guinea, in 1884, advertising the 'New Guinea Excursion Trip'.
This consisted of a five-week trip from Thursday Island and has been described as the "official beginning of tourist cruises in the South Pacific".
Acquisition of the Port Moresby Hotel occurred in 1914, with the Papua Hotel purchased some years later.
Burns Philp went out of existence on December 20, 2006, when all its shares were purchased by Rank Group Australia Pty Ltd
In 2007, Nasfund purchased 51% of the Burns Philp site in downtown Port Moresby.
In 2008, it purchased the remaining 49% comprising 5,191 square metres over six titles. “Maintenance of heritage buildings is important to the city of Port Moresby,” Nasfund said in its June 2009 newsletter.
“It was deemed important that the most-important redevelopment site in Port Moresby be owned by Papua New Guinean workers through their fund.
“Any long-term redevelopment will ensure that the historic Bell Tower section will remain preserved as the Tower is perhaps the most historical building in the country, dating back to the early 1900’s.
“As part of the restoration, a further 950 square metres of disused space will be upgraded for lease to the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Daltron.”
All these plans, infortunately, went up in flames on Sunday night.
Icon destroyed
Caption: A firefighter trying to put out the fire on the roof of Tribal Den nightclub. On the right is the tower undergoing renovations by Hornibook PNG – Nationalpic by Henry MorabangA
Burns Philp building razed within two hours
By PATRICK TALU in The National,
The former
The building housed the Tribal Den nightclub, several shops, including kai bars, an internet café and the National Narcotic Bureau office.
The building was recently purchased by Nasfund.
Eyewitnesses told The National the fire started around 7pm, and by 9pm, the building was burnt to the ground.
The fire service arrived at the scene but could do little. But they managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the Westpac Bank.
The cause of the fire is not known.
An employee of a firm that operated the internet café said he believed the fire started in one of the offices at the top floor.
The firemen responded quickly but could not contain the fire as the building was too wide and the fire had spread from the middle of the building.
The winds, blowing briskly towards
The firemen tried their best to put out the fire but tackling the inferno from only one side was a lost cause as the fire had already spread all over the building, making it impossible for the fireman to contain it.
As the flames spread towards the Westpac Bank building, which was adjacent, firemen fought hard to prevent the flames from engulfing the bank.
Chief of PNG Fire Service Isaac Silas, who was at the scene, said he could not make any comments yet as it was too early to determine the cause of the fire.
Some opportunists tried to take advantage of the situation to loot shops but police were on guard.
Residents from downtown, who were there to witness the scene, described the building as one of the iconic and oldest buildings from the colonial period.
They said it was built almost the same time as the Papuan Club, which was burnt down in the late 1960s.
In 2007, Nasfund purchased 51% of Burns Philp and purchased the remaining 49% last year. The site comprised 5,191 square metres over six titles.
The fund wanted to redevelop the site for historical reasons. It wanted to ensure that the
New Lae property sets benchmark for the future
The new K50 million development on Second Street in Lae (pictured) is destined to set a new standard for quality and excellence in the Lae property market once it is completed by mid 2011.
The building, 100% owned by the largest superannuation fund, Nambawan Super Ltd will comprise of basement car parking, five levels of high quality office/commercial space and two penthouse levels of premium residential space.
Contractor is Lae Builders and Contractors, architect is Pacific Architect Consortium (PNG) Ltd Project managers is Point Project Management, Civil and structural engineers is Kramer Group, and services engineers is M&E Partnership Ltd.
“Nambawan Super Limited has realised that the continued growth and prosperity of Papua New Guinea relies on the creation of suitable buildings and facilities,” said managing director Leon Buskens.
“Both Port Moresby and Lae are currently lacking office and residential accommodation as evidenced by the high rental rates being paid.
“As part of a wider investment strategy, Nambawan Super Limited is in the process of constructing a number of ‘landmark’ buildings including the new Lae ‘Top Town’ Building; an affordable housing development at Eight-Mile in Port Moresby and a multi-storey mixed commercial / residential building in Port Moresby CBD.
“All these projects provide a balance between responsible investment in PNG’s future and solid returns for members of the fund.”
Lae Builders and Contractors Limited (LBC) has been awarded the construction contract for the ‘Top Town’ building and will employ 220 people from around Lae and PNG for approximately 2.5 years while the job is progressing.
Skilled employees will range from programmers and health and safety officers to electricians and bricklayers.
“Mike Gibson is the commercial and contracts manager for LBC and it is his responsibility to coordinate all the various work packages,” Mr Buskens said.
“Most material for the building is being manufactured locally by Lae Builders, which adds a second tier of investment into the local economy.
“For instance, LBC has commissioned its own concrete batching plant and concrete beam manufacturing facility.”
Only recently, LBC chairman, Sir Bob Sinclair, presented an overview of the construction techniques involved with this complicated structure to building students at the University of Technology in Lae.
“The project will provide a valuable ‘real world’ learning tool to the construction professionals of the future,” Mr Buskens said.
“The total cost of the project is approximately PGK 50,000,000 and completion is expected in mid 2011.
“As part of the project, Nambawan Super will be investing in local infrastructure such as electricity sub-stations.
“The building will also be a step into the future for PNG.
“The design team has worked hard to ‘future proof’ the building by incorporating features such as energy-efficient chillers, energy-efficient lighting, high quality glazing that limits energy loss, low water bathroom appliances and sun hoods to limit temperature rise caused by solar heating.
“In addition, the building has the latest fire safety systems including an independent tank for fire water supply.
“Ease of maintenance has also been a major consideration to ensure that the building maintains its status as the prime address in Lae for many years.
“The stunning design by Pacific Architect Consortium of Port Moresby offers a choice of one or three-bedroom apartments or commercial space with a floor plate of up to 900 square metres.
“The positioning of the building on ‘Top Town’ hill guarantees spectacular views of both the Finisterre Ranges and the Huon Gulf.
“It is expected that the new ‘Top Town’ building will be the first in a long line of developments that will reinforce Lae’s position as a major city within the region. “Nambawan Super Ltd has engaged the services of Point Project Management who are based in the offices of Rumbam Engineers in Port Moresby.
“Point will be working with prospective tenants to ensure the facilities are fit for purpose and can drive business success right through the next decade.”
• For further information about the building or for prospective tenancy information please contact Justin Parker on justin.parker@pointpm.com.au
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Record prize money offered by University of Goroka for art awards
Ms Sally Watson of New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG chancellor Peter Baki (CBE) Chancellor standing under the banner to officially launch the Live Lave Art Awards competition last Wednesday night.Picture by KATE GUNN of UOGArt in Papua New Guinea has entered a new dimension with the launching of the Live Lave Art Awards.
The competition was formally launched on campus at the University of Goroka (UOG) last Wednesday.
In a first for UOG, a total prize pool of over K20, 000 will be offered for winning entries in the Live Lave Art Awards competition for 2009.
The competition will be the highest-ever paying of prizes for art awards in Papua New Guinea.
The Live Lave Art Awards is jointly sponsored by the New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG, and is a competition for artworks in three different media: painting, printmaking and innovative craft sculptural form.
First prize for the painting category is a record K10, 000, while second prize is K5, 000.
New Guinea Fruit Company, a Goroka-based business specialising in locally-made fruit drinks and other fruit products, moved to support the arts at UOG through donating K36, 500 to support the Live Lave Art Awards competition.
Acting vice chancellor of the UOG, Associate Prof Michael Mel described the evening as “a special occasion for many of us…as many things make UOG unique from its other sister universities and the development of culture is one of these factors”.
Prof Mel said the art awards had become an annual event at UOG after its initial conception during the Goroka Coffee Festival in 2008.
He said that this year’s art awards were a “private and public collaboration between New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG to support and collect culture in its various artistic forms”.
New Guinea Fruit Company representative Ms Sally Watson, who attended the evening, said sponsoring art had been an idea of the company’s for the last few years and of great interest to them.
She said it was a pleasure to be involved as it “is important to preserve art for the future” especially for our children’s sake.
The programme for the evening included guests touring an exhibition of entries from last year’s competition acquired by the UOG; witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between UOG and New Guinea Fruit Company and the official launching of the Live Lave Art Awards by UOG chancellor Peter Baki and Ms Watson representative of New Guinea Fruit Company.
Mr Baki said the loss of culture equaled the loss of a nation.
“The future is redesigned and rewritten, with UOG’s support for culture, starting tonight,” he said.
The launching saw a good turnout from corporate friends and staff of UOG, including council members, who were happy to support UOG and sample products from New Guinea Fruit Company.
The competition was formally launched on campus at the University of Goroka (UOG) last Wednesday.
In a first for UOG, a total prize pool of over K20, 000 will be offered for winning entries in the Live Lave Art Awards competition for 2009.
The competition will be the highest-ever paying of prizes for art awards in Papua New Guinea.
The Live Lave Art Awards is jointly sponsored by the New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG, and is a competition for artworks in three different media: painting, printmaking and innovative craft sculptural form.
First prize for the painting category is a record K10, 000, while second prize is K5, 000.
New Guinea Fruit Company, a Goroka-based business specialising in locally-made fruit drinks and other fruit products, moved to support the arts at UOG through donating K36, 500 to support the Live Lave Art Awards competition.
Acting vice chancellor of the UOG, Associate Prof Michael Mel described the evening as “a special occasion for many of us…as many things make UOG unique from its other sister universities and the development of culture is one of these factors”.
Prof Mel said the art awards had become an annual event at UOG after its initial conception during the Goroka Coffee Festival in 2008.
He said that this year’s art awards were a “private and public collaboration between New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG to support and collect culture in its various artistic forms”.
New Guinea Fruit Company representative Ms Sally Watson, who attended the evening, said sponsoring art had been an idea of the company’s for the last few years and of great interest to them.
She said it was a pleasure to be involved as it “is important to preserve art for the future” especially for our children’s sake.
The programme for the evening included guests touring an exhibition of entries from last year’s competition acquired by the UOG; witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between UOG and New Guinea Fruit Company and the official launching of the Live Lave Art Awards by UOG chancellor Peter Baki and Ms Watson representative of New Guinea Fruit Company.
Mr Baki said the loss of culture equaled the loss of a nation.
“The future is redesigned and rewritten, with UOG’s support for culture, starting tonight,” he said.
The launching saw a good turnout from corporate friends and staff of UOG, including council members, who were happy to support UOG and sample products from New Guinea Fruit Company.
EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50
From PAUL OATES in Queensland, Australia
This seems a little daunting to start with but if you apply yourself you may find that it's not as difficult as you think.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5-kg potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full
minute, and then relax.
Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-kg potato sacks.
Then try 25-kg potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 50-kg potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each sack.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5-kg potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full
minute, and then relax.
Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-kg potato sacks.
Then try 25-kg potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 50-kg potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each sack.
Wattle bark
From PAUL OATES in Queensland, Australia
Australia's National floral emblem is the Golden Wattle (top picture) , however, I think the Cootamundra Wattle (second picture) is spectacular. Wattle trees flower in winter and it's heavy 'nutty' perfume fills the air.
BTW - Does anyone know how you spell Wattle bark in three letters?
Australia's National floral emblem is the Golden Wattle (top picture) , however, I think the Cootamundra Wattle (second picture) is spectacular. Wattle trees flower in winter and it's heavy 'nutty' perfume fills the air.
BTW - Does anyone know how you spell Wattle bark in three letters?
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