Who owns the Kokoda Trail? Australian mythologies, colonial legacies and mining in Papua New Guinea

In recent years ‘Kokoda’ has assumed an increasingly significant place in popular Australian memory and mythology, sometimes rivaling Gallipoli in importance. With thousands of Australians now walking the Kokoda Trail each year, a trekking industry has developed that is dominated by Australian companies. Whilst those companies provide employment for locals in Papua New Guinea, their interests do not always mesh with those of mining companies seeking to exploit the region’s natural resources. The ensuing debates about mining and tourism reflect immediate commercial interests, as well as deeper questions about who ‘owns’ the Kokoda Trail.