Alotau
| Alotau | |||
| State : |
 Papua New Guinea
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| Province : |
 Milne Bay
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| Coordinates : | 10 ° 19 ′ S , 150 ° 26 ′ E | ||
| Height : | 6 m | ||
| Residents : | 12,900 (2006) | ||
| Time zone : | AEST (UTC + 10) | ||
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Alotau is the capital of the Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea . The place is on the north bank of the Milne Bay .
Alotau is the area in which the Japanese invading army suffered its first defeat on land during World War II ( Battle of Milne Bay 1942). A memorial park in the old battle area commemorates the event.
Alotau became the provincial capital in 1968 after the city of Samarai , which was destroyed in World War II , could not regain its former importance.
There is no road to or from Alotau; access is only possible from the sea. Gurney Airport is named after Major Charles Raymond Gurney of the Royal Australian Air Force , who fell there in 1942. The airport is 12 kilometers away from the city.
In terms of tourism, Alotau is considered to be rather unattractive, even if the residents are considered very friendly.
