Sideia Island

Updated on Oct 11, 2024

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Location Oceania Total islands 1 Length 13.5 km (8.39 mi) Elevation 377 m Island group Louisiade Archipelago Adjacent body of water Solomon Sea		Adjacent bodies of water Solomon Sea Major islands Sideia Width 15.5 km (9.63 mi) Area 101.3 km² Province Milne Bay Province

Sideia Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

Map of Sideia Island, Papua New Guinea

Administration

The island is part of the following Wards:

Sauasauaga, on the southwest cape. (This Ward is mostly on Sariba)

Gotai, on the southeast area (with Populai Island)

Sekuku, on the central area (with Dinana Island)

Tegerauna, on the northeast area.

Sideia, on the northwest area.

All Wards belong to Bwanabwana Rural Local Level Government Area LLG, Samarai-Murua District, which are in Milne Bay Province.

History

Sideia Island was sighted by Europeans when the Spanish expedition of Luís Vaez de Torres arrived on 18 July 1606. Their ship, El-Morata anchored at Oba Bay in the south west, that they then named Puerto San Francisco. Torres named the island St. Bonaventure.

The mission in that island was established on April 22, 1932 by the Australian Province of the French Congregation Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). By 1942, it was fully developed and became the base for other missions in the nearby islands. Many facilities were set up to provide education, medical assistance and ways of living to the native of the area.

Geography

Sideia is located East of the end of New Guinea mainland. Its area is 101.3 km². The island is part of the Sideia group, itself a part of Samarai Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago. It is located between Sariba Island and Basilaki Island. The island of Sideia is quite near Alotau and can be reached in less than three hours by motor boat.

Demographics

The population of 1890 is living in 30 villages across the island. The most important one, and where the dock is located, is Sideia. The other villages: Lamoasi, Mwalotakilili, Dumalawe, Paka, Gugui, Gadogadowa, Oba, Memeali, Kunubala, Gabutau, Makabweabweau, Nasauwai, Tabuara, Liliki, Kalu, Gotai, Wanahaua, Sekuku, Waiyau, Goteia, Kaula, Kubi, Boikalakalawa, Namoa, Dulaona, Balagatete, Tegerauna