ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Milne Bay Province was created under the Organic Law on Provincial Boundaries to implement Part VI A of the PNG Constitution providing for the establishment of the province through Constitutional Amendment Number 1 on 30th September 1976. Since the late 1800s, the main headquarters of the province was based on Samarai Island. Because of lack of space, Samarai was abandoned. In 1968, Alotau was officially declared as the provincial capital of Milne Bay Province. At that time the province was divided into 7 districts comprising Samarai District, Alotau District, Bolubolu District, Losuia District, Misima District, Esa'ala District and Rabaraba District. These were later altered to the four districts with fifteen Rural Local Government Councils, and one Urban Local Level Government Council (Alotau Urban). The Governor is the head of the Provincial Assembly with 21 members. Provincial government representatives are drawn from 16 LLG presidents and local government councils and other prominent leaders in the province.