New Hebrides

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New Hebrides
1906–1980
Flag of New Hebrides
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag
Location of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu)
Location of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu)
StatusCondominium
CapitalPort Vila
Common languagesBislama, French, English
History 
• Established
1906
• Independence
30 July 1980
CurrencyNew Hebrides franc, New Hebrides pound
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission
Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission
Vanuatu


The New Hebrides was a Condominium in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising the islands of the present-day nation of Vanuatu. The archipelago was jointly administered by the United Kingdom and France from 1906 until its independence in 1980.

History[edit | edit source]

The islands were first inhabited by Melanesian peoples. European contact began in the 17th century with the arrival of Spanish explorers. The name "New Hebrides" was given by the British explorer James Cook in 1774, after the Hebrides islands in Scotland.

In the late 19th century, both the United Kingdom and France claimed parts of the archipelago. To avoid conflict, the two nations agreed to administer the islands jointly, establishing the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission in 1887. This arrangement was formalized in 1906 with the creation of the New Hebrides Condominium.

Administration[edit | edit source]

The Condominium was unique in that it had two separate governmental systems operating in parallel. There were separate British and French administrations, each with its own police force, courts, and other institutions. The two systems were overseen by a joint court and a condominium council.

Independence[edit | edit source]

The movement for independence began to gain momentum in the 1970s. On 30 July 1980, the New Hebrides gained independence and became the Republic of Vanuatu.

Geography[edit | edit source]

The New Hebrides archipelago consists of approximately 83 islands, with the largest being Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate. The capital, Port Vila, is located on the island of Efate.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of the New Hebrides was primarily based on agriculture, with copra, cocoa, and coffee being the main exports. There was also a significant presence of British and French plantations.

Culture[edit | edit source]

The culture of the New Hebrides was a blend of Melanesian traditions and European influences. The official languages were Bislama, French, and English.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]



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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD