Fort Teremba
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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. 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.
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". 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. 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 past 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.
In 1989 the site was classified as a historical monument. Every year, a light and sound show depicting scenes of life at the time, attracted a wide audience. 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.
Moindou
Moindou is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean....
in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, 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
Teremba Bay
Teremba Bay or Baie Teremba, formerly known as Uarai Bay, is a bay in southwestern New Caledonia. Moindou Bay lies to the west and Chanbeyron Bay lies to the southeast, separated by Lebris Island. The La Foa River enters the sea through a swampy area at Teremba Bay from the northeast...
(Uarai Bay), opposite the mouth of the La Foa River
La Foa River
The La Foa River is a river of New Caledonia. It has a catchment area of 438 square kilometres.It flows into the Teremba Bay on the southwestern coast.-References:...
, 124 kilometres north of Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
.
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.
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. The fort was built by the convict labour. 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, 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. 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.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. 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.
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". 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. 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 past 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.
In 1989 the site was classified as a historical monument. Every year, a light and sound show depicting scenes of life at the time, attracted a wide audience. 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.