Madang is situated on the north-east coast of mainland New Guinea. It was originally settled in 1884 by the Germans, who drained most of the swamps; by 1904 it was a habitable malaria-free area, considered by many to be a 'jewel of a place'.
The settlement of Madang, located on a peninsula surrounded by two beautiful harbours, was dotted with parks and waterways and lush tropical growth.
The 'jewel of a radio shack', Madang, 1938.
Madang was bombed by the Japanese in January 1942, and all except one radio operator abandoned the station. The remaining operator destroyed most of the equipment, including confidential documents, keeping a few essential items to take with him when he, too, left. A few days later, the masts were demolished by members of the New Guinea Volunteer Regiment.
Madang radio station was re-established by OTC after it took control of the Coastal Radio Service in 1947.
