Photos from the Book

The following photographs, unless otherwise acknowledged, have been provided by those who contributed to the preparation of this book that acknowledges the formative years of the Papua and New Guinea Development Bank.  Like those who rescued them from dusty albums, they too are showing signs of age.  This matters little, however, as they are an indelible record of what the Bank, through its field staff, set forth to achieve some forty years past.

Opening of the Bank by the Minister for Territories the Hon. C.E. Barnes in 1967.  On his left David Hay, Administrator of PNG, Marua Rarua Rarua, Sir John Crawford and (back row) George Warwick-Smith.  On his right the Bank's first Deputy Managing Director Ken Whatson and Michael Tibu and behind them Ray Baxter and K.C. James.

The new Bank building at Waigani on the morning of its official opening - 7 August 1975

Newly-appointed PNGDB Representatives 1970.  L-R: Leigh Semmens, Peter Mitchell, Bruce Dymock, Bob Chambers, Kevin Broadhurst, Derek Wetterling (partly obscured), Peter Robinson, Ron Sunderland, Bob Diehm, Jon Roy, Managing Director Keith Crellin, Bernie King, Mike Harrison, David McGeachie

ANG House, the Bank's first home in the Port Moresby CBD

From 1967 to 1969, the PNG Development Bank operated only from its Head Office in Port Moresby.  In 1969 it expanded and opened small Regional Offices in Lae, Rabaul and Mount Hagen.  In 1971 these moved to larger premises and became Regional Branches covering several Districts.  At the same time, a network of Representatives had been established throughout the country.  As the need arose, Branches were established in several more Districts (later Provinces) and also some Sub-Branches at a later date.

Boroko (Port Moresby) Branch Office 1974

The new Lae Branch Office, built in 1976

PNG Development Bank staff, Lae - 1976

Mt Hagen Branch Office, built in 1973, celebrates Independence, 16 September 1975

PNG Development Bank staff, Mt Hagen - 1976

Rabaul Branch Office, first occupied in 1971.  Photo taken in 1992, then The Agriculture Bank of PNG office.

The Rabaul Regional Office 1969-1971; in 1971 it became a Regional Branch.  The Office is the small space behind the closed door with the windows on either side.

Rabaul staff members with over 20 years' service when photo taken in 1992.  L-R: Nemika Mark, Elsie Bola, Kilagi Billie (Manager) and Nancy Walaga.  The three ladies had been at the Rabaul Branch since 1971.

Beef cattle under coconuts, Koke Bagu Plantation, September 1970

Sugu Balamakau Kampani cattle, 1976

Village tractor and trailer, Milne Bay

Smallholder copra drier

Loans Officer Egi Trudi and Bank-funded contractor, 1974

Bank Representative Ron Sunderland (centre), Business Development Officer (BDO) and Rural Development Officer (RDO), Wewak

Government officials talking with villagers, Milne Bay, 1971

Webenoa, Woodlark Island to hear Bank Representative and Rural Development Officer (RDO), April 1971

A typical bush airstrip, Woodlark Island, April 1971

Alotau Government offices, 1971

Bank Representative's office and residence, Daru, 1974

A typical trade store, Eastern Highlands, 1970

Bank Representatives were provided with a vehicle, an office and a house.  Here the Goroka Rep's family head to the river for weekend leisure time.

The Bank Representative was provided with office space in the Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries' (DASF) office in Goroka.  Bank vehicle to the right.

Burns Philp building, Goroka, 1971.
The Burns Philp Company came to New Guinea in the late 1800s.  They owned many stores, plantations and both coastal and overseas ships.

Bank residence in Goroka with Bank vehicle parked underneath

Representatives (Reps) of the PNG Development Bank worked with Government Rural Development Officers (RDOs) and Business Development Officers (BDOs) to promote both rural and commercial enterprises.  The concept of borrowing from a bank to accelerate development was new to the people.  Land was owned by the community, not the individual.  An individual needed the agreement of his people.  Much explanation and discussion was necessary.  This took time and a major part of the effort was getting there and back.  There were poor roads and bridges together with steep slopes and adverse weather to be dealt with.  This was the time when many small loans were provided.  It can be said: "Small loan, big effort."

There was always lots of discussion.  Here District Rural Development Officer (DRDO) Joe Nitsche and Rural Development Officer (RDO) Bob Thatcher talking with potential cattle borrowers at Kainantu, Eastern Highlands District.

A not unusual fate for a PMV (Passenger Motor Vehicle)

Bank vehicle in typical road conditions on the way to Lufa Sub-district, Eastern Highlands.  District Rural Development Officer (DRDO) Joe Nitsche rests against the car.

Playing around on the road to Obura, Eastern Highlands

PMV (Passenger Motor Vehicle) at work - note the suspension bridge

Business Development Officer (BDO) Ed Hankin en route to a trade store inspection

Looking down on Lufa, Eastern Highglands

The Bank’s Board was always ready for what might be called ‘adventures’ into more remote areas.  A visit to Tapini in the Central District took them to see some Bank-financed cattle projects and allowed them to experience one of the country’s more ‘interesting’ airstrips.

[Photo courtesy of Graham Syphers, Macair pilot in the 1960s and ‘70s.)

Road travel was not without its challenges in the Highlands in particular

Switchbacks above the Wahgi River near Gumine, Chimbu District

The road to Gembogl, Chimbu District left little room for error

Patience was a virtue while bridge repairs were carried out

The Highlands Highway was one of the better roads but not without its difficulties - here near Kundiawa, Chimbu District

A risk of equipment and vehicle finance

Water travel took many forms - here a big dugout canoe at Murua, Gulf District, 1970

Coastal boat at Kiunga, Western District - 400 miles up the Fly River

Smallholder rubber production was financed by the Bank at various places - here the house of a settler on a resettlement scheme at Murua, Gulf District

Latex being collected from a tapped rubber tree at Murua, Gulf District

Rolling the coagulated latex sheets at Murua, Gulf District

Ribbed smoked sheets (RSS) of rubber ready for sale at Murua, Gulf District

The condition of expatriate-owned plantations inherited by the Bank under the Ex-servicemen's Credit Scheme (ESCS) varied greatly - here an abandoned copra plantation in the Madang District

In contrast, this Arabica coffee under Leucaena glauca shade near Mt Hagen, Western Highlands was flourishing

The Bank helped this family purchase this expatriate-owned copra/cattle plantation at Orangerie Bay, Milne Bay District

Copra drier on the Orangerie Bay plantation

Large-scale cattle property in the Jimi Valley, Western Highlands, 1973.
World Bank funding through the PNG Development Bank played a key role in developing the beef cattle industry.  Turnoff from large expatriate-owned properties such as this was used to stock native cattle projects throughout the country, 

A native cattle project near Gumine, Chimbu District

Native cattle projects were often a whole-village venture

From 1974, the Bank started its own large cattle properties to promote economic and social development in some less developed areas and by 1981 the Bank had become the country's second largest beef producer.
Here a Bank officer and local Rural Development Officer (RDO) are meeting with landowners in the Sugu Valley near Kagua, Southern Highlands in 1974 to discuss developing their land for cattle production.  Subsequently, the Bank-owned Sugu Bulamakau Kampani was established to undertake the development of about 7,000 acres in the valley.

The first airlift of materials into Safia in the Musa Valley of the Northern Province, 1977 - the second bank-owned and operated large scale cattle property, Yareba Bulamakau

Tea estate with Flooded Gum on the boundary - Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands.
The Bank funded a number of large tea estates that supported smallholder development.

Tea picking: two leaves and a bud - Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands

Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries (DASF) tobacco trials, Goroka, Eastern Highlands - forerunner of Bank-funded smallholder development in the area

Borrower and his broiler chicken shed near Lae, Morobe District

Pigs at Popondetta Agricultural Training Institute (PATI), Northern District - a source of stock for smallholder projects funded by the Bank

Trout farm near Goroka, Eastern Highlands

Village coffee processing - Chimbu District

Local Didiman advising Chimbu villagers on coffee drying

Smallholder processed coffee awaiting shipment at Wedau, Milne Bay

Bank-owned Davara Road flats, Port Moresby - home for some Bank staff

The birth of the oil palm industry: Coopers Camp, Cape Hoskins, West New Britain, 1967

Harvesting oil palm fruit
[Photo courtesy of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)]

The harvested oil palm fruit
[Photo courtesy of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)]

New Britain Palm Oil Ltd nucleus estate, West New Britain
[Photo courtesy of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)]

Inspecting the oil palm fruit before purchase
[Photo courtesy of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)]

Transporting the oil palm fruit to the oil extraction mill
[Photo courtesy of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)]

Successful oil palm Land Settlement Scheme settlers, West New Britain
[Photo courtesy of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)]

Successful coconut settlers, Dagi Land Settlement Scheme, West New Britain, early 1990s