Fort Teremba
Part of New Caledonia
Moindou, New Caledonia
View from the top of the fort
Location Map of Fort Teremba opposite to Teremba Bay
Fort Teremba is located in New Caledonia
Fort Teremba
Fort Teremba
Coordinates21°43′43″S 165°42′56″E / 21.7286°S 165.7156°E / -21.7286; 165.7156
TypeFort and Prison
Site information
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionRestored
Site history
Built1871 (1871)
In useYes
MaterialsStones and Bricks
DemolishedNo
EventsRevolt of 1878

Fort Teremba is a former fort and a prison located near Moindou in New Caledonia, which came to be set up to house prisoners and the supervisory staff. The prisoners were brought to build road network Canala-Bourail-Boulouparis. It overlooks Teremba Bay (Uarai Bay), opposite the mouth of the La Foa River, 124 kilometres north of Noumea.[1][2]

The fort was further strengthened following the revolt by Kanak people against the French Colonial rule, in 1878, when they had besieged the prison. The fort was closed in 1898.[1][2]

History

The construction of a military fort and a prison along the Bay Uarai began in 1871 at the request of the Governor Eugène Gaultier de la Richerie and sent a contingent of twenty-five convicts, with two supervisors and three policemen.[2][3] The fort was built by the convict labour.[4] The camp was renamed Fort Téremba by reference to the island Téremba which is in the middle of the bay. A small town was set around the camp, with a registry office, a library, a church, a school, post office, a telegraph,[2] a market place and a wharf. After construction of the fort, while men were incarcerated at the newly built Fort Teremba, women prisoners were kept at a prison at Fonwhary (also Panwhary) 6 km away to the north of La Foa.[1] At a time, the prison housed 200 prisoners in the shacks (built with "cob stones") outside the fort walls, who were engaged in building roads, bridges and buildings.[5]

The Kanak revolt started at La Foa, the "gendarmes" inside the fort were killed, and the revolt spread further south. However, the fort was never taken and at the time it was still in very good condition.[1][6] After the revolt of 1878, the military fort was redesigned and strengthened to serve as bunkers and possible refuge. To counter the power of the colonial administration, the governor Pallu de la Barrière subsequently decided to employ the convicts in the construction of roads and infrastructure. In 1885, the fort came under the control of the prison administration. However, the fort was abandoned in 1897–98 as deportations came to an end.[7]

By 1906, the fort had fallen into neglect; one author commenting in this year talked of the "repulsive-looking barracks, so grim and grotesque, and smelling so damp and fusty".[8] Having long been neglected, Fort Téremba was finally restored by the action of the local Association Marguerite in 1984 who have set up the "Heritage Interpretation Center, and military prison in New Caledonia" spread over 11 ha site. The municipality have bought the site in 1987.[2][9] The main building was reconstructed and houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the fort. The watchtower, a high stone wall and a guillotine are moot witness to the history of the fort. The circular tower of the fort provides nice vistas of Teremba Bay and the neighbourhood. The fort is approached from RT1 road, 14 km west of La Foa and then along a path of about 3 km to reach the fort.[1][4]

In 1989 the site was classified as a historical monument.[2] Every year, a light and sound show depicting scenes of life at the time, attracted a wide audience.[1][10] The theme of the show presented for two hours is on the history of fort, the prison and the Kanak revolt, which is enacted by 180 artists (of various historical figures) which is concluded with a very impressive display of fireworks in the backdrop of the fort.[5]

Barracks in Fort Teremba

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Logan, Leanne; Cole, Geert (5 July 2001). New Caledonia. Lonely Planet. pp. 155–158. ISBN 978-1-86450-202-2. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FORT TEREMBA: A PRISON FOR DEPORTEES IN NEW CALEDONIA". Colonial Voyage. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  3. ↑ Archaeology in New Zealand. New Zealand Archaeological Association. 2002. p. 196. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  4. 1 2 Stanley, David (January 2000). South Pacific handbook. David Stanley. p. 757. ISBN 978-1-56691-172-6. Retrieved 14 June 2011. Fort Teremba.
  5. 1 2 "Bringing the past to life" (PDF). The New Caledonia Weekly. 12–19 September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Ru, Yvonne Le; Ru, René Le (1 August 2009). Un tour du monde à la voile comme on en rêve sur Amzer Zo. La Découvrance. p. 182. ISBN 978-2-84265-627-0. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "CHAM in Caledonia". Medieveal History and Architecture Volunteer Projects. Cham Association. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Wragge, Clement Lindley (1906). The romance of the South Seas. Chatto & Windus. p. 46. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Fort Theremba". fort=teremba.com. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  10. ↑ McKinnon, Rowan (1 August 2009). South Pacific. Lonely Planet. pp. 22–. ISBN 978-1-74104-786-8. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
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