Virtual Museum of COLONIALISM

In the administrative area known as Moindou in New Caledonia, there previously existed two indigenous Kanak tribes: Little Moindou and Great Moindou. Following an attack by these tribes on the Moindou agricultural center on 21 July 1878, the area was completely destroyed on 22 July 1878 as a result of punitive measures carried out by French colonial forces. This event is regarded as part of the broader wave of local resistance and uprisings that occurred in New Caledonia during that period and reflects the Kanak communities’ struggle against colonial occupation.

Archival documents dating from 1886 indicate that, due to its favorable geographical position, the Moindou administrative district was subsequently designated as a principal settlement by the French colonial authorities. Between 1880 and 1886, France initiated the rapid construction and development of the village, which was noted as the only settlement in New Caledonia to have been built at such a rapid pace during that time.
Several roads were constructed around the village—Moindou–Téari, Moindou–La Foa, Moindou–Tango, Moindou–Koné, and Moindou–Bourail. The development of this infrastructure relied primarily on the labor of prisoners held in penal colonies, who played a crucial role in its construction. These processes were carried out under strict supervision by the colonial authorities.

The restoration and development of this area were also driven by a policy of settler migration. Migrant families transferred from France and Germany were resettled in the region. In this respect, Moindou represents a typical example of both the colonial forced-labor system and European settler colonization policies.