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 in the late afternoon on the front veranda of the Governor General's residence MacArthur summoned Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger and his chief of staff Brigadier General Clovis Byers. Also present were General Sutherland and General Kenney. MacArthur instructed Eichelberger "I want you to remove all officers who won’t fight..." at the end of his tirade told him bluntly: "Bob…I want you to take Buna, or not come back alive. And that goes for your chief of staff too."

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
U.S. Army in World War II Victory in Papua Chapter XI I Corps Reaches the Front page 204 (Governor General's Residence)
Dick Bong (1960, 1980) by General George C. Kenney page 20
Red Arrow Across The Pacific (2024) pages 194-1945 (Governor General's House November 30, 1942)

Photos by Australian Army & US Army, May 1944

Photos by Justin Taylan, August 29, 2005

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?