(Dates in italics indicate
de facto continuation of office)
German New Guinea / Territory of New Guinea , Neu
lauenburg (now
Duke of York Islands),
Bismarck Archipelago on 4 November 1884. , the
Bismarck Archipelago and the
Samoan Islands (bordered in
red), 1905. in the
Pacific Ocean. German New Guinea is shown in
brown. In 1945, the
Territory of New Guinea was merged with the
Territory of Papua to form the
Territory of Papua and New Guinea. The merger was formalized with the passage of the
Papua and New Guinea Act 1949.
British New Guinea / Territory of Papua (shown in
light green). In 1945, the
Territory of Papua was merged with the
Territory of New Guinea to form the
Territory of Papua and New Guinea. The merger was formalized with the passage of the
Papua and New Guinea Act 1949.
Territory of Papua and New Guinea On 16 September 1975,
Papua New Guinea achieved independence following the passage of the
Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975. For a list of viceroys in Papua New Guinea after independence, see
Governor-General of Papua New Guinea. == See also ==