Hopoi Mission Station facts for kids

The Hopoi Mission Station is a Lutheran church outpost located in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Today, it is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea. This station has a rich history, especially during World War II, and also served as an important school.

Where is Hopoi Mission Station?

The Hopoi Mission Station is found south of Bukaua. It is about 41 kilometres (25 mi) east of Lae and 52 kilometres (32 mi) west of Finschhafen. It sits on a place called Cape Arkona, which is east of the Bulu River.

Cape Arkona is a noticeable cliff where the buildings of the Hopoi Mission Station are located. In the past, there was a small airstrip here, but you can't see any signs of it today.

Hopoi Mission Station's History

The Hopoi Mission Station played a role in World War II. On September 4, 1943, the Australian 9th Division, led by Major General George Wootten, landed near Lae. This landing was part of a plan to surround Japanese forces in the town. Five U.S. Navy ships helped by providing artillery support.

The soldiers did not face Japanese troops on the ground when they landed. However, Japanese planes attacked them, causing about 100 deaths among the Allied naval and army personnel. The 2/13th Battalion, which landed on the same day, moved east towards Hopoi Mission and then on to Finschhafen.

Challenging March for Soldiers

The 9th Division faced tough natural obstacles. Rivers were swollen due to heavy rain, making them hard to cross. They stopped at the Busu River because they lacked heavy equipment to build a bridge. Also, Japanese soldiers were waiting on the other side. On September 9, the 2/28th Infantry Battalion attacked and secured a safe crossing point after fierce fighting.

The journey from Hopoi Mission to Finschhafen was very difficult. It was called the "greatest march of the New Guinea campaign." In just 10 days, the soldiers covered about 50 miles (80 km) of very rough land.

Mission Station as a Base

The Mission House at Hopoi was used as a headquarters and a place to store supplies. This was for the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit, which was led by Captain Ralph Geoffrey Ormsby.

Between 1932 and 1972, the Hopoi mission also served as a Lutheran school. It trained teachers for many years.