1882

Suva becomes the capital

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What we know

  • In 1882 the capital moved from Levuka to Suva, which had more room to grow and a deep harbour.
  • Suva is still the capital and Fiji’s largest city.

The story

In 1882, the colonial capital moved from Levuka to Suva. The change shifted the administrative centre, but Levuka’s commercial life continued.

Government, ports and plantations were different parts of the same developing colony. The next chapter returns to 1879, when the first ship carrying Indian indentured workers reached Fiji. Their experiences reveal the human cost behind colonial economic expansion.

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Sources

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