Mount Hagen

Mount Hagen is the third largest city in Papua New Guinea and functions as the capital of the Western Highlands Province. Situated at an elevation of 1,677 m in the fertile Wahgi Valley of central mainland Papua New Guinea, the urban center is named after a nearby eroded volcano that honors the German colonial officer Curt von Hagen.

What historical turning point introduced westerners to the region?

In 1933, a historical turning point occurred when Mick Leahy, his brother Dan Leahy, and government officer Jim Taylor conducted an aerial reconnaissance over the highlands. This flight led to the discovery of the heavily populated Wahgi Valley. Shortly afterward, these explorers walked into the area with a well-supplied patrol, marking the first recorded contact between westerners and the indigenous tribes living where Mount Hagen now stands.

Following this initial contact, the first patrol constructed an airstrip at Kelua near the modern city location. By 1934, a replacement airstrip known as the Mogei Drome or Mogai Aerodrome was established on the site that would later become the town itself. The historic first flight touched down at this airstrip on 1 April 1934, piloted by Bob Gurney, with the first airmail dispatching the following day. Eventually, this early landing site transitioned into the main street passing by Chinatown, while the active airfield was relocated fifteen minutes outside of town to Kagamuga.