travel

The Changing

Face Of Suva

A Regular Rim Department

Reporting News Of South

Seas Tourism And Travel

From The Inside

JJJINCE 1952, when a fierce hurricane swept through Suva damaging and destroying buildings, -iji’s capital has been undergoing an :xtensive facelift.

Old hotels, shops and stores have lisappeared or have been refurbished; imber construction has given way to :oncrete and steel; and even multi storey buildings have come to town.

A big factor in the growth of new luildings is that the population has ncreased by 17,000 in the past 10 •ears, so that it now stands at 54,000, >r 80,000 if the surrounding urban ireas are taken into account. Another actor is the constantly expanding ourist trade.

So many changes have taken place n the last decade or so that an out ider, returning on a visit after a apse of several years, hardly re ;ognises the place.

The pictures by Rob Wright on this md the next three pages clearly ex ilain why.

Until only a few years ago, the Nubukalou Creek running past Morris Hedstrom's store in Suva was an evil-smelling waterway choked with debris (lower picture). Then, in 1964, a retaining wail and fill narrowed the creek; trees, shrubs and flowers were planted; and, 10, an eyesore was turned into a beauty spot.

Opposite, top, is the Fiji Times office in Suva, headquarters for many years of the colony's main English-language newspaper, as it was shortly before its demolition in 1955. Below is the corner site as it is today, with the modern Sabrina and Millett buildings making an attractive showing. The Fiji Times, meanwhile, is extending its premises at the rear of the two storey building, seen in the top picture.

In 1950, the shopping area opposite the fire station, with MacDonald's Hotel on the extreme left, looked rather like a set in a Western movie (above). Ten years later, the old shops and hotel were torn down and re placed by the modern Victoria Arcade (right).

The five-storey Colonial Mutual Lif Assurance Society's building is cun rently Suva's highest office building It was opened in December, 1965. is air-conditioned, fitted with alum nium sun-breakers to reduce heat an glare, and it has a modern lift. Th[?] building represents an investment [?] £F250,000. It stands on the site [?] the old Central Buildings (lower pi[?] ture), which were devastated by th[?] 1952 hurricane after standing for 4[?] years.