In March 1871, the Europeans began to settle in this region situated on New Caledonia’s west coast, 128 km north of Nouméa. The region was also known as Uarai after the small island opposite Téremba.
The governor Gaultier de la Richerie sent a contingent of 25 convicts there, supervised by 2 wardens and 3 policemen. They were to be responsible for setting up a penitenciary. This would become the Uarai-Téremba camp, known today as the « Fort de Téremba » (Téremba Fort).
In 1872, the governor authorised the establishment of free settlers and the first settlers from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France arrived in Moindou in 1873.
A coal deposit was discovered here in 1873, but it was not until 1922 that coal mining became the district’s main activity. This continued until 1930 when production dried up. Moindou then reverted to being an agricultural village whose main activities were divided between its market gardening and cattle rearing.
In recent years aquafarming has given a new lease of life to Moindou with the development of prawn farming, which is today its main resource.
