History and Port Town of Levuka – Fiji Levuka Historical Port Town Travel Guide

Levuka is located on the east coast of Ovalau Island, the capital of the Eastern Division of Fiji. It was the capital of Fiji until 1882 when it was replaced by Suva. Over the years, this city has long been applying for World Heritage status and was finally inscribed as a World Heritage Site in June 2013.

Established around 1820, Levuka was the first European settlement in the Fiji Islands, making it the oldest city in Fijian history and the first modern city in Fiji. It served as both an important port and a trading post, developing into a commercial center in the early 19th century where European and American immigrants constructed warehouses, shops, harbor facilities, residences, religious buildings, educational institutions, and social organizations. Levuka is a late colonial port city deeply influenced by the indigenous population and stands as a rare example of a late colonial port town with significant indigenous influences, with more indigenous dwellings than European ones.

Levuka is the most outstanding representation of a 19th-century Pacific immigration port city, reflecting a unique urban landscape worldwide shaped by a blend of local traditional architecture with European and American influences.

Levuka Historical Port Town

Reasons to visit: One of the newest World Heritage Sites in 2013

Continent: Oceania

Country/Region: Fiji

Province/State: Eastern Division

City: Levuka

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