Fiji
Levuka
Levuka Historical Port Town is a Pacific urban landscape that represents the effects of 19th-century British colonisation based on maritime extraction and export.
This port on Ovalau Island was developed by colonisers and became the first colonial capital of Fiji. The town generally consists of single or two-storied wooden buildings, merging local traditions with colonial standards. The preserved monuments include the former Cakobau Parliament House site, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, residential and commercial buildings, churches, schools and constructions related to port activities.
Community Perspective: Getting to Levuka from Nandi, Fiji (where most international flights land) is quite an effort. The place seems abandoned but still has charm. Anthony describes what you may expect from a visit, while Shandos and Ammon have shared the practicalities.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Levuka Historical Port Town (ID: 1399)
- Country
- Fiji
- Status
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Inscribed 2013
Site history
History of Levuka
- 2012: Incomplete - not examined
- 2013: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- ii
- iv
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- frommers.com — Levuka walking tour by Frommers
- levukatourism-com.webs.com — Levuka Tourism Association
News Article
- May 10, 2016 radionz.co.nz — Historic Fiji town tries to recover from Cyclone Winston
- March 3, 2016 whc.unesco.org — Tropical cyclone struck Levuka late February
- Sept. 9, 2010 fijitimes.com — Levuka loses heritage interest
Community Information
- Community Category
- Urban landscape: Colonial
Travel Information
Recent Connections
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Christian missions
"The demography and nature of the town … -
Significant masonic lodges
"the South Pacific’s first Masonic lodg… -
Selected for the "Preserving Legacies" project
Connections of Levuka
- Geography
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Situated in one of the SIDS
Fiji (2013) -
Melanesia
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Pacific Ocean
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- Trivia
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Built or owned by Americans
"It developed from the early 19th century as a centre of commercial activity by Americans and Europeans" (AB ev) -
Built or owned by British
represent 19th century British colonisation (AB ev) -
Cultural sites closely connected to volcanoes
Levuka Historical Port Town is set amongst coconut and mango trees along the beach front of Ovalau Island against the forested slopes of the island’s extinct volcano. (OUV statement)
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- History
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Fusion
reflects the integration of local building traditions by a supreme naval power, leading to the emergence of a unique landscape (brief description) -
Located in a Former Capital
capital of Fiji (1871-1877) (wiki)
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- Architecture
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Gothic Revival
the timber Gothic Revival style Sacred Heart Cathedral and Presbytery (AB ev)
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- Damaged
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Destroyed by Hurricanes or Typhoons
Cyclone Winston, Feb 2016See whc.unesco.org
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- World Heritage Process
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First inscriptions
Fiji (2013) -
Only WHS in their country
Fiji -
Slow Starters
1990-2013 : 23 years
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- Religion and Belief
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Christian missions
"The demography and nature of the town shifted with growing settlement, with the first Christian mission established in 1858 by Marist priests led by Father Bréhéret and the Methodist Church built in 1862."See maa.cam.ac.uk
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- Human Activity
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Cannibalism
Cakobau, the founder of the Fijian kingdom at Levuka, was a former cannibal. He had himself converted to Christianity and renounced cannibalism in 1854. (wiki) -
Sea Ports
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Significant masonic lodges
"the South Pacific’s first Masonic lodge (1875)"
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- Constructions
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Cemeteries
Old Levuka Cemetery is tended to perfection by prison inmates. Tombstones bear the names of many Europeans who settled here in the 19th century (Frommers) -
Notable Hotels
The historic Royal Hotel dates to about 1860 but was rebuilt in 1917 after a fire destroyed the original building. -
Clock Tower
Baroque stone tower with a clock that strikes once an hour, in front of the Church of the Sacred Heart (1858)See en.wikipedia.org
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- WHS on Other Lists
- Timeline
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Built in the 19th Century
first stage of settlement at Levuka (1820s-1850) & represent 19th century British colonisation (AB ev)
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News
- radionz.co.nz 05/10/2016
- Historic Fiji town tries to recove…
- whc.unesco.org 03/03/2016
- Tropical cyclone struck Levuka lat…
- fijitimes.com 09/09/2010
- Levuka loses heritage interest
Recent Visitors
Visitors of Levuka
- Adrian Turtschi
- Ammon Watkins
- Andrea Gormley
- Angela Vandyck
- Bill Maurmann
- Bram de Bruin
- Craig Harder
- Danniella
- Errol Neo
- Gabbro
- George Evangelou
- George Gdanski
- GithaK
- Harry Mitsidis
- Ingatastic
- Joel on the Road
- john booth
- KateY
- Leontine Helleman
- Loic Pedras
- Longdutch
- Ludvan
- Maciej Gil
- Michael Ayers
- Michael Novins
- Morodhi
- Paul Schofield
- reinhardt
- Reza
- Rickard Alfredsson
- Roger Ourset
- Rudegirl
- Sascha Grabow
- Shandos Cleaver
- SHIHE HUANG
- Thomas Buechler
- Timothy C Easton
- Vanessa Buechler
- Weecheng
- Zoë Sheng
Community Reviews
Show full reviews
I made a last-minute decision to visit Levuka when I found myself in Suva with a few extra days to spare. Previous reviewers have already described the town well. I found it more functional and active than I was expecting. Sure it is small, but the mid/late-19th century wooden colonial architecture along Beach St. reminded me of a displaced gold rush town like the ones I'd recently been visiting back home. Unlike those, which often have a ghost town "museum" feel to them, Levuka is simply trapped in time and very relaxed and friendly. I got a walking tour map from the New Mavida Lodge where I stayed (in the one remaining original structure and not the newer, larger section) which proudly pointed out Fiji's firsts: the first government-run school, post office, police station, town hall, social club, etc. In many cases the buildings have been repurposed but everything is still in use and refreshingly lacks any touristic focus. I am not sure how often it runs but on the Friday and Saturday that I visited, there was even a small vegetable market set up along the waterfront across the road from the historic core. Overall I enjoyed my visit and found it to be a great and relatively easy escape from touristic Nadi and busy Suva with 1 night just the right amount of time.
As of Sept 2024 when I visited, there are 2 trips/day with Goundar Shipping from Suva. They have a small ticket booth at …
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Levuka is not an easy site to get to, even if you start on the right side of the world in Sydney, Australia. From Sydney, it's a just a quick 4-5hr flight to Nadi, the main airport in Fiji, from where most people head directly to resorts. But then you need to get to Suva, on the other side of Viti Levu, either a short flight or a 4-5hr bus ride. And Levuka is located on the small island of Ovalau, just off the coast to the north. Previously, there were flights to Ovalau, but there haven't been commercial flights now for multiple years due to the state of the runway. Instead, it's a 4-5hr trip by a bus/ferry combo.
After a late departure from Sydney, luckily all our other transport connections ran smoothly. We selected to take the cross-island bus rather than fly to Suva, as the flights didn't line up and the bus ticket was about 10 or 15% of the cost of a flight. The cross-island buses often run a little late, but at least we stopped on the way at a market - a good spot for cheap snacks. Also, make sure you turn up at the "loading" not the "departure" time for the bus/ferry - it often departs early!
It ended up taking about 24hr to arrive in Levuka from Sydney, including a hotel stay in Suva with a late arrival and early departure (we recommend the Capricorn Hotel near the bus station), …
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Its May in the South Pacific and we are into the dry season. My wife and I have spent the last three weeks, with two other couples enjoying and exploring a myriad of different islands. It is interesting to distinguish the differences between the Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians. Also I am reading the wonderful travel book, 'The Happy Isles of Oceania' by Paul Theroux.
Everyone is packing to go home except I am doing a last excursion to Levuka on my own. No one else wants to make this trip and Mrs Sun insists its time for her to return home to see her grandchildren. So after sending them off at Nandi, Fiji to fly to Los Angeles, I start my attempt to hit another WHS.
If you are in this part of the world, most international flights come in and out of Nandi, Fiji. From here to get to Levuka is quite an effort.First of all, you need to get to Suva, the Capital of Fiji which is 4-5 hours by bus across the main island of Viti Levu.
Then you overnight and catch the early bus from Suva to Levuka which is 2 hours by land and 45 mins by ferry to the island of Ovalau and then another 45 mins round island on gravel road where you will be deposited in downtown Levuka. The return bus starts out at 4.00am!
Its a one street town and so you cannot get lost. Look for the Royal Hotel for …
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Well Levuka was a home for me ten years back. The Heritage is like a candle light that never fades away. With the old style of nature and free- styled multi-cultural society, I felt that theres no reason to seek for transfer. I have been to the peak a couple of times with my brothers and sister, have travelled to St John College twice and did my practicum at Levuka Public School. At the moment I am still looking forward to taking my children to this beutiful and peaceful town to experience the love and peace of Levuka and its, although old but free and friendly nature.
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I am glad to see that Levuka is inscribed in the World Heritage Listing after many years of struggle to preserve, safeguard and promote one of the many historic landmarks in Fiji' Levuka is unique amongst many countries of the world.I had visited Levuka Town before the inscription in June 2013 and hope to see many revitilisation and work in terms of keeping Levuka town since the government is pouring funds into the maitenance of this historic port town.
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Was based there for 5yrs with Customs...2000 to 2005.wonderful place and people.Sites and many great things to see.Listening to the history of the place told by the elders is also another great experiance.So glad the sight has been approved for World Heritage.
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From 1874, when Fiji was ceded to Queen Victoria, until 1879 Levuka was the capital city of Fiji. Actually it was little more than a village, one kilometer from end to end.
Once the capital was transferred to Suva its decline began. An attempt to revitalise it was made when a tuna canning plant was built, but otherwise, the streetscape along the waterfront from the Cession Stone to Gun Rock remains pretty much unchanged. Even if the streets have reverted to gravel, as they would have been in 1879, Levuka still has its charm.
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I was born in Suva Fiji in 1975, and schooled at Leveuka Public School from 1983-1987. In this time I loved everything about Levuka, the people, culture, heritage and the good times. It was evident then that the national language was English, as I had to learn it straight away.
But 26 years after 1987, I visited Levuka on the day it was listed under world heritage, I so surprised,I arrived that night and the next day went to the museum and spoke a couple of people and asked them what the heritage listing meant for them. It is great honor one said, and the other said hope it brings in more tourists.
My personal take on Levuka was sad, in some ways as the place seem to have been abandoned in some regards, with the LEvuka club closed, Masonic hall burnt, the roads were gravel where they used to be sealed. Just seemed to be a town that was struggling, I hope with this Heritage listing the government of Fiji really puts their effort into this town to promote and preserve it. My son aged 10, daughters aged 6 & 3 really loved Levuka. It still is Levuka, and it was great getting back to this beautiful place.
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