The search for a portOn 30 May 1854, the ship's ensign, Tardy de Montravel chose the site for what is today known as Nouméa (previously called Port-de-France) to be the capital of New Caledonia.
In fact, although this site was completely uninhabited and had sheltered bays for ships to drop anchor in, this peninsula presented few other advantages for the development of a town. The coastline was very rugged and there was no river, which posed a major problem in terms of water supply.
Despite this, Port-de-France became a town with the population congregating around the bay and changing the original langscape forever. To avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique, Port-de-France changed its name to Nouméa on 14 March 1866. The name was derived from two islands located in the harbour "Nou" and Méa".
Major civil works
The first map of the town was drawn up by Major COFFYN and in 1857 the first civil works were carried out at the base of Fort Constantine for the first administrative buildings.
In 1858, the levelling of the "butte Conneau" (a natural mound of earth and rocks) began. The administration used prison, civil and local labour. 300 prisoners were employed on the building.
It was the Governor DU BOUZET who, by decree of 10 December 1857, gave the first streets their names.
Nouméa and the penal colony
By decree of 2 September 1863, New Caledonia became a "penal colony" with the first prisoners arriving in Nouméa's harbour aboard the Iphigénie on 8 May 1864. In 1869 the first of these were made available to the department of civil engineering to work on building sites in Nouméa and notably on the levelling of the "butte Conneau", water conveyance from Yahoué and road construction…
New Caledonia's penal colony closed in 1931 and amongst the last buildings dating from this period and still visible today are the remains on Nou Island of the old temple, the cathedral and the music kiosk. The many colonial houses which still stand in the Latin Quarter, the Faubourg Blanchot, l'Orphelinat and the Vallée des Colons also date from this period.
Nouméa to 1945
In 1909, Nouméa inaugurated the Doniambo nickel fusioning factory and employed Japanese, Javanese and Vietnamese immigrants.
Shipping services transported the mineral between Marseille and New Caledonia. It wasn't until 1932 that Charles de Verneilh provided the Le Bourget-Nouméa airfreight service and that the streets of Nouméa were provided with electric lighting.
During the Second World War, on 12 March 1942, New Caledonia which had at the time 60,000 inhabitants, experienced one of its most significant events : the American army arrived with 17,000 GIs to set up its main base in the South Pacific. A real unsinkable aircraft carrier, the island became in just a few months the second largest port after San Francisco. One million American soldiers were posted to New Caledonia between 1942 and 1945. To this day, roads, aerodromes, buildings and names of suburbs bear witness to this period.
Nouméa today
In the 1996 census, Nouméa had 76,293 inhabitants of which 33.8% were below the age of 20. The population is divided into the following ethnic groups : European (49.9%), Melanesians (22.5%), Indonesians (3%), Ni-Vanuatais (1.6%), Tahitians (3%), Vietnamese (3%), Wallisians(9%), other (6%) and non-declared (2%).
The town's surface area is 5070 hectares, of which 740 are dyked. Nouméa is home to the main administrative institutions including the High Commission, the Headquarters of Armed Forces of New Caledonia, the Government, Congress, the offices of the Southern Province and of various consulates (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Belgium, Italy…). The Mayor, Jean LEQUES, has held this position since 24 January 1986.
The centre, resembling a small provincial French town, is the economic and commercial hub of the island with its port, warehouses, shops and Administration with many offices, hospitals, schools and the university (the smallest in France).
Well-organised and modern, Nouméa is also the island's touristic crossroads. It is from here that most of the excursions by sea, land and air depart.
The must-see historical and touristic sites
La Place des Cocotiers
La Place des Cocotiers (Coconut Square) located in the town's centre, is divided into four squares with the oldest being the place Feillet where there is a music kiosk.
The place Courbet incorporates the Fontaine Céleste and is point 0 for all distance calculations on the island.
Then there is the place de la Marne and the square Olry where the statue of the governor of the same name stands.
The Music Kiosk
In 1879 the Department of Civil Engineering offered their services to construct the music kiosk on the Place des Cocotiers for the sum of 3000 F. It was built by Transportation labour.
The first concert seems to have taken place on 14 July 1881 by the Transportion instrumental ensemble. At this time the kiosk hosted performances of the New Caledonian Lyre, the municipal and military brassbands.
Today, the kiosk is still the focal point for any celebration.
The Céleste Fountain
Céleste Mohamed was 17 when she modelled for the sculptor, Paul Mahoux. It all began on 6 February 1892 with a letter from Governor Laffon requesting that the town's Mayor, Pierre Sauvan submit to the town council a proposal for a monumental fountain. The proposal was examined on 30 May 1892 and on 3 July, the tools ordered by the sculptor arrived from Paris. The work took 4 years to complete and the fountain was inaugurated in 1895 on the Place des Cocotiers.
The old temple
Work on this construction began in 1890 using convict labour. On 18 June 1893, the Temple was inaugurated. This building overlooking the boulevard Vauban and visible in the perspective of the rue de l'Alma from the quays, is, along with the Saint Joseph Cathedral, one of the most important old buildings in Nouméa.
It has been a classified historical building since 1992.
Nouméa's Cathedral
Excavations for this began in 1876. A public competition was held for this project and it was Labulle's design which was chosen. In 1887 workers from the prison began work on the cathedral and it was blessed on 26 October 1890 and inaugurated on All Saints Day.
The decorative central light (a replica of the one in the Madeleine Church in Paris) was completed using one of the first leaves of nickel produced from the New Caledonian mineral.
It became a classified historical monument in 1992.
The local market
Nouméa's colourful local market is held daily at the Baie de la Moselle. Early risers get the best bargains. On sale are freshly caught fish and shellfish, bouquets of flowers, fresh vegetables and tropical fruits.
Open every day from 5
Closed the 3rd Monday of each month.
The town's museum
This is situated within the walls of Nouméa's old town hall, opposite the Place des Cocotiers, on the corner of the avenue Foch and the rue Jean Jaurès. The permanent exhibition depicts Nouméa's history. The museum includes an exhibition on the participation of French soldiers in the First World War and a model of the town in 1897.
Guided tours on Mondays at 14h : 420 FCFP
Tel. : 26 28 05
Fax : 27 60 62
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Nouméa's aquarium
Nouméa's aquarium, which has been a municipal one since 1977, was founded in 1956 by the Catala couple. Everything here is natural, the seawater, the light and of course the multitude of sea creatures. This provides a real window onto the New Caledonian lagoon where you will discover the splendor of the coral reefs and their inhabitants.
It is situated on the "route de l'Aquarium", near Anse Vata.
Tel. : 26 27 31
Fax : 26 17 93
The Michel Corbasson Zoological and Forest Park
Situated a few minutes from the town centre, on Nouméa's heights, the park has superb walks within an enchanting site, with magnificent views over the whole lagoon and the southern coast of the Mainland. Here you can observe amongst others, the animals endemic to New Caledonia such as the cagou (emblem of New Caledonia), the notou, the Ouvéa parrot…
Four times a day the Little Tourist Train (Petit Train Touristique) stops at the park departing from Anse-Vata (Galerie Palm Beach).
Tel./ Fax : 27 89 51
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The Tjibaou Cultural Centre
The Tjibaou Cultural Centre, situated ten minutes from the town centre, is imposing with its very modern style which is both elegant and sober being inspired by traditional kanak architecture. Designed by Renzo Piano, one of architecture's contemporary masters, the Cultural Centre is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. Permanent and temporary exhibitions can be visited there and shows take place (dance, singing, music, theatre…)
Rue des Accords de Matignon - Tina
BP 378 - 98845 Nouméa Cedex
Tel. : 41 45 45
Fax : 41 45 56
E-mail : adck@can
Internet : www.adck.nc
The Maritime History Museum
This museum opened in 1999 within the "Port Autonome" and is the result of a painstaking detailed inventory of forty shipwrecked vessels which came to grief on the reefs; this was a lengthy exploration which was carried out over several years by the "Fortunes de mer" and "Salomon" associations.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 14h to 18h. Guided tours on request by Guides du patrimoine.
Av. James Cook - Route de Nouville BP 1755 - 98845 Nouméa Cedex
Tel./ Fax : 28 68 21
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The museum of New Caledonia
Opened in 1971, this museum is dedicated to the archeology and ethnology of oceanic populations. It invites you to discover New Caledonia's archeology, and kanak arts and traditions. Its rooms house a magnificent collection of ancient Melanesian sculptures, totems and funeral masks as well as various objects retracing all aspects of social life. Further on in a courtyard is a large Melanesian hut and in a patio an ethnobotanical garden.
Situated on the corner of l’av. Foch et de la rue E. Porcheron.
Tel. : 27 23 42 / 27 41 79
Fax : 28 41 43
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Bibliography
| « Le Mémorial de Nouméa » | Editions Planète Mémo |
|---|---|
| « Laissez-vous guider dans Nouméa » | Editions Grain de Sable (Jacqueline JULIEN) |
| « Vivre à Nouméa » | Editions Solaris (Pierre-Alain PANTZ) |
| « Nouméa Rétro » | Editions du cagou (Luc CHEVALIER) |
| « Maisons calédoniennes » | Publical (Marcel PETRON) |