This is Korowere. My family and I used to live here till daddy retired and I moved to the village with them.. My brothers were still working so they stayed behind and moved to a house in Matanagata. I was born in Vatukoula but now I am a Canadian citizen living in Port Coquitlam BC, Canada. Vatukoula will always be home.
I'm sure you have some fond memories of Vatukoula in the past. It's so different now. The current gold extraction is very low-key. Sadly, I can see a time when it ends completely.
@Buna Martin bula vinaka glad to know you are from Vatukoula 🥰 I'm from Suva as I'm watching this vlog it's interesting to see your town and the village 😀 beautiful houses there
Very interesting, I was born in 1958 in Korowere, Vatukoula and moved to Suva with my family in 1975 and then I moved to England in 1977. My father had a barbershop next to the library. I still live in England but miss Vatukoula so much. The weather, the fruit trees, nice smelling flowers, the tropical look of palm trees and plants, the clean compound of the local Fijians and many more.
6:43 From this shot behind the road heading downhill on the left (about 400m) you will come to a creek crossing. The creek is called Vunisina and the area is called near Lololevu. It is around that creek around November 5th 1932, Bill Borthwick and Pat Sinclair camped there and discovered gold. That was the beginning of Vatukoula Gold Mine.
Wow! Thanks for that, "Uncle Max". I might make that the subject of another vlog from Vatukoula. I want to go back and explore some of the lesser known parts of the place. Vatukoula is like an onion: so many layers! :)
I was born in Vatukoula Gold mine We had 5 different mango trees and 1tamarind tree. We use to play with our Fijian nabours. It's been nearly 50 years since we moved from there but I can still speak Fijian language.
@@ThePaleBlueDot We had a couple of shops along the Hibiscus Highway in late 50s all of 60s and early 70s. What we did was to take household items by van all along the Hibiscus Highway from village to village so that those who were unable to go to shops were able to get necessary food items from salt sugar or for matter all the daily needs were available to all including clothings. What hurts me the most is that a copra industry is almost non existent today which were thriving then. Maybe you can do some probing into the death of copra industry in Savu Savu. Just a suggestion. Seen couple of your clips good work keep it up.
Hello "The Pale Blue Dot" - great to see you doing a story on Vatukoula and yes it is surprising how people actually living in Fiji never ventured to Vatukoula. This is my home town too...like many of those that have commented before me - very special place and lovely memories. Hope you don't mind but just wanted to clarify that the building that is still standing in Korowere, opposite the old Post Office was actually a Grocery Store/Bakery and was started by my Grandfather, later run by my father...so actually was my family home. The movie theatre/library/(later) gym building, the MH building which were both to the left of our Store/Home have all been destroyed over the year after a couple of cyclones. Those concrete steps that are left there is the 'Old MH' building
Hello, Carol. Lovely to hear from you! You must have some extraordinary stories to tell of your time there. I’m very tempted to go back to tell more stories of Vatukoula such has been the positive response to the vlog. To be honest, it was a last minute filler for a story and I didn’t think my style was up to the usual standards. The regular vlogs I’ve been planning on Fiji’s ancient history have had to be postponed because of the rain which has been torrential and persistent.
@@ThePaleBlueDot thank you :-) Oh yes lots of stories & memories plus lots of stories from my parents, so much history in this little town. It was amazing to live there, grow up there and experience this lovely community. I attended the Marist Convent School actually - it was not a "convent" school as such, it has always accepted both females & males and was run by the Marist Sisters. There were no houses/boarding facilities as such for students, every student were just day pupils. There was only a building up from the school where the Nuns lived and then a building behind the Church for the priest. All those houses along that street leading to the Convent school & Church were occupied by the Expats who worked in the Mines.
Carol, bulla. I too lived in Vatukola back in early 1950's. My brother Peter Cramer-Roberts and I have fond memories of growing up there. We played with the Mitchell's, Kay's, Tucker's, Yarrow's, Webster's, amongst others. My father was the Emperor Gold Mine's chief engineer along with Don Mitchell, Cayzer, Theodore and Banks as executives. Do you recall those families I mention? Ni SA moce Suzanne Cramer-Roberts
Thanks for your vlog, really interesting since my family lives in Lololevu where my dad works at the Gold mine. As you mentioned about the old post office & right opposite it was the old Fong Lee shop, besides the shop remains the foundation of the old MH & further up use to be a 2 storey building , upstairs used to be the old Emperor Theatre, bottom floor use to the Library & also a barber shop owned by Ishmael who lives down in Lololevu. Late 1970s when the old MH was relocated to Tavua and the old building was used as a Worksop. I grew up in Lololevu as a kid attended the then Vatukoula Govt Fijian School from 1971 to 1978 & left Vatukoula for higher education in Lodoni. That shop used to be our waiting place to catch the bus to school. It brings back alot of wonderful memories as a kid.
Thank you, Filimoni, for all that fascinating detail. By your account and that of others on this vlog, old Vatukoula seems to have been a self-contained town. I believe there was even a local radio station.
Hi Fillimoni, so happy to hear that u r from lololevu. I am one of Ismails daughter now living in UK. In 1975 we moved to Suva and then to UK in 1977.can u tell me yur dad's name and which house u used to leave in.
@@nagmasoma6112Hello, thank you so nice to know that you still remember Lololevu. My dads name is Lorima Vatu, there was only one house on the other side of the road close to the Lololevu river. That's our house.
@@filimonitokoni3430 hi, thanks for the reply. Omg I remember yur house but we were not allowed to cm there more often because of the river. Was Pichchilia yur mum or grandma? Also I remember Sotya, Lendua and Kule. My brothers were Yusuf Salim and Shamim. Yusuf is 80 years old and live in UK the other 2 passed away at very young age. We wer the only indians in Lololevu. Nice to hear from u.
Hello, thanks for the reply. Yes she is my mum and they are my brothers & sisters. Both my parents passed away & Sotia & Ledua as well. I left Vatukoula in 1979 & my dad retired in the same year so they move to the village while I continue with my studies in Suva. Im the second youngest of 8
Thanks for sharing sir@ the Pale Blue Dot This brings back many fond memories childhood beginning 1983-1989, from 6-12yrs old(mid 40s now) and attended Vatukoula Government School. It was a beautiful colonial style school buildings back then. My head teacher was Mr. Bower. Best teacher ever! My stepfather worked in the Vatukoula Gold Mines and we happen to have lived in Matanagata, Lololevu and Newtown(North of Loloma). People lived well, they made good money and did well for themselves. It was interesting to see how much the houses and roads have deteriorated and not much progress since then. I recall having asthma from the poor air quality and water quality was poor that resulted from gold mining. Nevertheless people were friendly and grateful with what they have. I also recall how many funerals my parents attended. Many died from the working there. It would be interesting to get a head count. I don't think there was much compensation from the Gold Mines Company. People were passive and were grateful to be employed and didn't care much to protest about the poor working conditions nor the living conditions. I hope to do visit someday. God Bless Vatukoula. Thank You.
Wow, Vira! That was such a movingly, beautiful memory! Thank you for such a detailed contribution. I wrote to someone on this channel that I intend to go back (hopefully tomorrow; depends on the weather; it's been raining torrentially lately) to cover Vatukoula again and include areas I hadn't previously covered. Again, thank you for such a wonderful recollection. :)
Iam from Sigatoka where Fiji's biggest sand dune is a historical site , it is so sad that now living in New Zealand, there are so many places in Fiji that I never got the opportunity to either visit or see . Fiji is one place of paradise that we all citizens of Fiji living overseas should go back to visit at least once and see all these beautiful sites and places. Azeem thank you very much for such informative videos ; please if you get time out of your busy schedule do one on Sigatoka Sand dunes and the town and market. Sigatoka is known as the Salad Bowl of Fiji. Keep up your good work really nice;
I've heard a lot about Vatukoula but i never had the chance to actually drive through and have a good look around. This is a historical place which has its significance in the economy of Fiji. Loving the tour bro and talking to the locals.
I've been to Fiji four times (between 2007 and 2016) and but was never introduced to this town or the goldmines. I plan to go back and will definitely add this location to my list of things to do.
MH-Morris Hedstrom Supermarket. The Suva branch was destroyed in a fire in the 90s. It was located next to Nabukalou Creek. I was in high school when it happened. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was Fiji's President and Sitiveni Rabuka was the Prime Minister.Stories appeared in the Fiji Times that the fire was caused by a faulty electric fan or it was deliberately burned by arsonists.
The Nadi branch of MH's suffered a similar fate. Now that MH has more or less ceased its operation in Fiji the lot in Nadi where it used to be located is just an empty space.
Morris Hedstrom’s was bought out by Carpenter’s group in the 50’s and the supermarkets operated under the same name for another 60 years or so. They’ve been recently rebranded Max Plus but the Suva shop is still MHCC. It was rebuilt after that fire. My great grandfather was Sir John Maynard Hedstrom who founded the company with his brother in law Percy Morris.
@@ropate70 Thank you for that detailed bit of history. If you’re the same Robert Kennedy I’m thinking of then I know your dear mum well. I did some legal work for her many years ago and she invited me for tea at her beautiful home towards Sigatoka.
Very informative history video, Sir. All the locals are so friendly and knowledgeable about their own local culture, Just a thought...........if Fiji is mining for Gold & previously magnesium, where is all this money going too? Obviously not to the locals. Such a shame like all over the world, big corporations and advance countries take advantage of the smaller nations.
Thank you. They are certainly very friendly. I'd like to go back soon and meet up and speak to some of the locals who have been around for a while and have precious memories of the past.
Omg....what a beautiful video ,i have worked at EGM for 6 year before migrating to NZ...really miss those happy days...buying fish lolo for $2.50 with casava in it.This was every Friday near my office in Green house.I was in IT department those day and use to to travel from Rakiraki everyday.God bless all.
As a fijian who lives overseas, I've now learnt a bit more about Vatukoula and how lovely the people are. I now hope to visit and appreciate Vatukoula on my next trip home 🙂
Nice to see again the places i been leaving and working in 5years.Fijian people's are always smiling and friendly. I wish you walking around in loloma area when i stayed in before.nice video.
Isa, Korowere. My Aunty use to work in that old post office, my grandfather worked in the mines n all my uncles and Aunty’s use to attend the Convent Catholic Sch, we lived in my grandfather’s house were you can see the movies going on across from our huge kitchen window…🤣 the Korowere shop use to be a bakery and yes it was operated by a Chinese family than a grossers and than to MH. It’s a pity no one showed you the old fish market.As of today my cousin’s still live in Vatukoula and work in the mines. Bring’s back beautiful memories watching this… thanks mate.
Thank y Pale Blue ○. Enjoyed this including the comments. Took students on Field trips to Vatukoula a few times. They also had their own radio station and the miners be listening from under. Appreciated
So sad that with the wealth that came out of there with the gold, not much was done to the settlement, would've been good to see better housing and a decent playground for the children. Nevertheless in true Fijian spirit they all seem happy with the basics. Thank you for uploading, so inspiring your work. I've just subscribed to your channel. I lived in NZ for 49 years came here when I was 1 and a half years old in 1973. Watching your videos is giving me a deep urge to come back home soon. So interesting to see a land I was born in and never really made the time to connect with 🤙
Thank you, tuff lion. Very kind comments. I agree entirely. So sad to see such a pleasant town go to wrack and ruin. And, yes, I agree, the Fijian spirit is formidable. The potential is huge. The failure to tap into it is, from where I stand, due to self-serving politicians. I’ve got a lot more stories to tell if only it would stop raining! 😂😂
Bula Azeem...so nice to see the old gold Town again after many years. I had an uncle who lived there with his family so I spent a few holidays up there. Loved every minute of it...such an adventurous place. Didn't really notice it at the time but now viewing your vlog it's interesting to see the physical manifestation of colonization and the segregation of races by living quarters. A testament to that time I guess. But interesting indeed. Vinaka for sharing.🙏🌺
Vinaka for watching, Alipate. It certainly was a product of its time. I've done another one on Vatukoula and I'll probably go back soon for yet another vlog. I want to try and uncover some of the hidden histories of the place. Another place high on my list is the old colonial government retreat of Nadarivatu. :)
@@ThePaleBlueDot ah yes special site of meditation of the Late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. Nadari vatu or the stone dish is said to be the source of the Wainimala river....you'll see water oozing from the ground there. Another beautiful place steeped in mystery and folklore.🌺
Thanks for the video. Brings back childhood memories of school holiday at Korowere. My mothers sister was teaching at Marist convent and use to live at the I think teachers quaters beyond the gym. They had to relocate because of the mining.I remembed the house more like the ground was shaking everyday. Next to the quarters you can see mine works going on.
All these houses need urgent Renovations. ASAP! God bless Vatukoula. Viti kei Vuravura Dina. God bless Marist Convent school and all the other schools. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Bula to you The Pale Blue Dot thanku for ypur blog about vatukoula its been years now i haven't been to my home town again ❤but thanks to you i get to watch your blog and i get to think back the old times living at the bottom gate is where i use to live with my grandparents .bottom gate there a only 2 houses there the 2nd house is where i lived in my childhood time ❤i attended Goldfield Primary school 👌my best and happy memories was living in vatukoula ❤❤thanku Pale Blue Dot
I was just thinking to myself when you started walking through the yard at 9.07 and thought man this fala know it's Fiji, should look out for dogs 😅 then you asked the young guys if there were any. Great video. Enjoyed it very much
Ive lived in Fiji my entire life mainly in the Suva area. Have only passed Vatukoula along the highway but never gotten off to actually tour the place. My mum was born and raised here before she moved to Suva. Your video is very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing.
@@ThePaleBlueDot You most welcome!! I am Fijian but I don't know much. Am in Fiji right now and one of my desire is to learn & see more of Fiji.. Yep so beautiful!!
Thank you, Laquisha. Very kind of you to say so. It was a fill-in vlog to replace another I had planned to visit an abandoned Fijian village high up on a hill. Alas, the weather got in the way so I fell back on Vatukoula. I'm pleased I did although I should have bumped up the quality a little and shown a bit more of the town. :)
Wowzaaa - Azeem, thank you so so much for this trip down memory lane. Brought back so much memories of me a youngster back in the early 80s going to school at the old Vatukoula Govt Fijian School. I think in your video, it showed the school now known as Vatukoula Primary School. Korowere, Matangata & Loloma brought back a lot of memories but next time Azeem, try to visit the Gaunavou Housing Authority (Low Cost as it's known as) as there's a lot of people that live there too. Also, try & find the Goldfield Primary school, this is where a lot of the expat kids went to. Now I live in Melbourne, Australia but Vatukoula will always have a piece of my childhood.
Thanks, Gaz. I'm so pleased you and so many like you enjoyed it. There is a Part 2 on my channel and I will be returning to Vatukoula for a further vlog once the rains let up.
@@ThePaleBlueDot Next time try to enter The Main Gate, You will be able to see the mine properly as for underground, You'll have to get permission from the Management. Thanks.
Thanks very much for documenting a piece of history for this place. Soon the area will no longer be remembered after old establishment will be removed through renovations or by hurricanes.
You know the entrance of vatukoula Gold mine,you should've come inside that road and you'll see many different houses inside and they are technically interested and loloma backroad its good to see🤷♀️👋
The Vatukoula express Bus will start picking up from that location and make its way to Suva, when it returns it will come back to that same location as its last stop....
families you interviewed have been there for generation. The house is being passed down from parent to children over the years. Everyone knows everyone and the history of the area. Gold mining is the only thing they know. THere was history of racism as well, but everyone was happy and lived well with each other, esp the children. I grew up there in there late 80s to the mid 90s and moved across the river to Nasivi Estate. Life was simple back then.
Wow me and my family with two other families used to live at Cayzer Shaft before in early 90's which is in Korowere .. Haven't been there after that .. In those days Post Office was still there .. Good old memories!
Bula, David! Wow! I had no idea. Thanks for that. Might drop in on a return trip to Vatukoula. I can definitely feel another trip biting ay my heels. The place is fascinating! :)
Well done! I remembered my Rotuman girlfriend! There used to be a lot of Rotumans that lived in Vatukoula. Also, back in the day, the gold miners were so overworked that family time suffered, and they actually went on a strike because they wanted additional time for sex added to their lunch break...!!!
Yes, indeed! I know the story well! I thought about telling it but then I thought discretion was the better part of valour. I believe it made the front page of 'The Fiji Times' and entered the history books!
Azeem I had relatives and friends who worked and lived in Vatukoula in them thar days, totally ignorant of the racial and social divides. The iTaukei were the lowest. The Rotumans were even regarded above them. Their Surburbs were called Quarters!
Thats not the old MH ..thats fong lees shop then became Tim Foos shop now belong to the Whippys..The MH is next to the shop with only the steps visible..then the road that leads to the Lesleys next to the road is the library/cinema..after the library there is a volley ball court...to the left of that is the training centre.
I'll be traveling there Did you have to get a vaccine to enter Fiji Meaning proof of vaccine? Was a qurateene time needed....I'm hearing 10 days qurateene Thank you for your reply
It’s been a long time.We met at the USP lower campus back in 1999 or so.I bumped into you again at Sydney Airport I think couple years ago , you were on your way to London.
@@ThePaleBlueDot Correct it was 2001.I recalled now.I always love having a conversation with you and humble person ❤️and I’m based in Western Australia.I am working in the mining industry out in the middle of desert 🐪😂😂😂😂.
@@Officialaxelsword Being out in the desert sounds amazing given the ancient history of Australian Aborigines (I’m reading ‘The Songlines’ at the moment). I hope you’re enjoying my vlogs and that you’re subscribed! 😉😎😃
You seem to walk through a lot of private property. Even private cemeteries. I hope other tourists watching your videos don't think its okay - privacy and respect for people is in Fiji too.
Interesting VLog. However, can you please handle that camera better and just focus on areas that will interest the general public. All we seeing is your hat and double sunnys..Good info shared tho. Can do better next time mate. Could have started from the actual mine itself then onto the accomodation areas..Cheers toodle-oo
I think it was great. He was building momentum to get to the main part/mine. Going through the community was good since there was information and stories passed on and other good information on the history etc.
@@kushaalprasad2178 Thank you, Kushaal! I should be uploading another vlog from Vatukoula by the weekend. This time covering parts I didn’t see last time. 😃✌🏽👍🏽👌🏽
@@ThePaleBlueDot awaiting to see photos of the tank houses. If you do have a drone,would be interesting to see a drone shot of those and the entire settlement as well
