Location
Oivi is a prewar village located along the Kokoda Highway, located along the Oivi Creek, roughly five kilometers west of Gorari.

Wartime History
After the Japanese landing on the north coast on July 21-22, 1942, they advanced to the Oivi area by July 25 then and advanced towards Kokoda. After their withdrawal over the Kokoda Trail, the Japanese established defensive positions the Oivi-Gorari area.

During early November 1942, the Australian Army advanced towards Oivi and met resistance roughly 1.5km west of Oivi from a forested areas where a Japanese force of approximately 2-3 battalions established machine gun positions and sniper positions in the trees, supported by mortars and mountain guns.

On November 6, when the Australians began probing these positions they sustained 17 KIA and 36 WIA. Instead of continued frontal attacks, the Australians used a parallel track to the south in at attempt to outflank the position over the next several days before attacking again during November 9-12. During the assault, the Japanese suffered approximately 1,000 casualties. The Australians suffered 130 KIA and over a hundred WIA.

Allied missions against Oivi
August 3 - November 9, 1942

August 3, 1942
(5th AF) P-400's strafe Oivi.

November 4, 1942
(5th AF) A-20s hit troop concentrations at Oivi, where an Australian attack meets firm resistance.

November 8, 1942
(5th AF) A-20s hit forces in the Oivi area

November 9, 1942
(5th AF) A-20s hit troops at Oivi in support of the Australian offensive

Today
Australian foxholes and weapons pits are located to the south of the village.

References
Field Guide to the Kokoda Track pages 398-404

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019