Mount Victoria (Papua New Guinea) Explained

Mount Victoria
Elevation M:4038
Prominence M:2738
Prominence Ref:[1]
Listing:Ultra
Location:Central Province in Papua New Guinea
Range:Owen Stanley Range
Map:Papua New Guinea
Map Size:280
Coordinates:-8.8925°N 147.5333°W
First Ascent:1889 by Sir William MacGregor

Mount Victoria is the highest point in the Owen Stanley Ranges in Central Province, Papua New Guinea at 4038m (13,248feet). It lies approximately 75 km north-north-east of Port Moresby and can be seen on a clear day from the city. The Mountain was named in honour of the British Queen Victoria by Commander Charles B Yule.[2]

History

Originally known as just the Great Mountain there had been several attempts to scale the peak by British colonialists in the 1880s. These attempts had failed after clashes with local villagers.[3]

The first successful recorded ascent was in 1889 by the British New Guinea Administrator, Sir William MacGregor. MacGregor had been in the territory as Administrator for only six months before he was compelled to launch an expedition to climb the mountain for himself.[3]

Starting on 17 May 1889, MacGregor approached the mountain from the west via the Vanapa River. His party included his private secretary J.B Cameron, a Samoan half-caste and thirty-eight Papuans and Polynesians. After ascending two smaller mountains, Mount Musgrave and Mount Knutsford, MacGregor eventually climbed the Great Mountain on 11 June and promptly renamed it Mount Victoria in honour of Queen Victoria.[3] Brisbane-born Chas C. Baines in 1953 led a team of native carriers on a successful ascent. He had taken leave from his post as Port Moresby-based radio technician for Radio 9PA.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Papua New Guinea Ultras List . peaklist.org . 2007-04-04.
  2. News: Torres Straits . 3 August 2024 . The New Zealander . paperspast.natlib.govt.nz . 2 . 96 . 3 April 1847 . 2. }
  3. Book: Souter, Gavin . New Guinea: The Last Unknown . 1963 . Angus & Robertson . 0-207-94627-2 . 65–68.