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Labasa

Fiji

Labasa is the main township of Vanua Levu- Fiji’s second largest island. This makes the town a crucial point of administration and public service for Fiji’s Northern Division, which covers mainland Vanua Levu and surrounding islands such as Taveuni, Kioa, Rabi, Laucala, Qamea, Macuata i wai, Drua, Nagodo, Yaqata, Cikobia, Mali, Talailau, Nagano, Cukini, Vorovoro, Tilagica and Namukalau.

Labasa’s central business district (CBD) lays on the banks of the Qawa River,  and is home to retail, restaurants and financial franchises that are typically found in other towns and cities. The other rivers that run through this township are the Labasa and Wailevu Rivers.

The Labasa Mill still operates today as the sole mill on Vanua Levu. It was opened by the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) Company in 1893 and attracted a community of European workers and managers. Many of them have remaining descendants such as the Hill, Moore, Hill, Shute, Harman, Simpson, Miller, Whippy, Barrack and Eyre families.

Like other mills operated by the CSR around Fiji in the late 1800s and early 1900s, its operations in Labasa had a large labour base of indentured workers from India. Many of the descendants of these labourers also remain, as successful business owners and cane farmers. Much of the present CBD is traditionally owned by villagers of Macuata Province (such as Naseakula village), and therefore the area has also commonly been referred to as Nasea.

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