Governor
General's Residence (MacArthur's HQ)
Located on a hilltop at Kaevaga overlooking Port Moresby and Fairfax Harbor
Construction
Built prewar as the residence of the Commonwealth Governor General of the Australian
territories of Papua and New
Guinea.
Wartime History
Starting on November 6, 1942 used by U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur as his residence and headquarters in Port Moresby until moving to GHQ Hill near Cyclops at Hollandia.
On November 26, 1942 guest
Captain Edward "Eddie" V. Rickenbacker stayed at the residence as a guest of MacArthur and had Thanksgiving dinner. He delivered a message from U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was briefed on the war sitution.
On November 30, 1942 on the front veranda of the Governor General's residence that MacArthur famously told Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger:
"Bob…I want you to take Buna, or not come back alive."
Today
Postwar, the building resumed being the Commonwealth Governor General's residence until independence. Today the Governor General of Papua New Guinea (PNG) residence. The grounds are open to the public and tours of the building by appointment.
References
Dick Bong (1960, 1980) by General George C. Kenney page 20
Photos by Australian Army & US Army, May 1944
Photos by Justin Taylan, August 29, 2005
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