Comments on: Kokoda: Track or Trail?

By: John M. Neenan

John M. Neenan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:56:14 +0000

My father and his mates who were on the (lower case) track in 1942 knew it as the Kokoda Trail, so that’s good enough for me.

By: Owen Busuttil

Owen Busuttil — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:26:46 +0000

The argument whether it should be called a Trail or Track is indeed a delicate and on going one. I myself refer to it as the Kokoda Trail, and this I base on many reasons; first of which being the fact that the arch at Owers Corner clearly states it as the Kokoda Trail.

Secondly, as has been previously mentioned on this blog page, the PNG Government has officially called it the Kokoda Trail since 1972 and we should respect that. Imagine if someone were to call the Great Ocean Road, for example, the ‘Great Ocean Route’ or something, it’s just not right.

Thirdly, as Charlie Lynn has stated, many of the Battalions involved in the campaign have clearly dubed it as the Kokoda Trail on their battle honours. Having said this though, it is still widely described as the Kokoda Track by many veterans. For instance, I am good mates with three veterans of the 2/27th Battalion and all of them call it the Kokoda Track.

However, this may also be attributed to the fact that the main wartime ‘Trail’ was indeed a series, and still is to a large degree, made up of many tributary tracks. Bearing in mind that often our Diggers were cut off, lost or forcefully withdrawing it can be imagined that many would consequently travel along these ‘Tracks’.

It can therefore by understood why there is such confusion over the ‘proper’ title of the Kokoda Trail. One can imagine that after knowing only Tracks, which in the case of the 2/27th is easily understandable, it would become common place to refer to it as a ‘Track’.

Regardless, and no offense is meant by all means, I believe it still should be rightfully known as the Kokoda Trail.

By: Hannes Schmidt

Hannes Schmidt — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:22:06 +0000

We as Australians should never forget our history. Long live the Kakoda Trail

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:25:01 +0000

The official reference for the designated name ‘Kokoda Trail’ is PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972 at page 1362, column 2.
Notice 1972/28 of the PNG Place Names Committee.

Unless somebody can come up with a reference that supercedes this then the official name is the ‘Kokoda Trail’.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:03:03 +0000

The Papua New Guinea Place Names Committee had a dozen notices covering six of the 16 pages of the 12 October 1972 gazette.There were hundreds of names proclaimed but I could not spot Kokoda Trail. Does someone have the exact page reference and I will have another look.

By: James Bowen

James Bowen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:31:33 +0000

If I may add a further comment that I believe to be relevant. This comment above is not strictly correct:

“For those who respect the right of an independent sovereign nation to proclaim its own geographical identities the correct (and official) terminology is ‘The Kokoda Trail’.”

Papua New Guinea did not become an independent nation until 1975. It follows that “an independent sovereign nation” did not procliam the track between Owers Corner and Kokoda to be the “Kokoda Trail”. The name “Kokoda Trail” must therefore be a colonial inheritance from the Australian Administration.

By: James Bowen

James Bowen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:25:55 +0000

I don’t thimk McCarthy supports the argument for “trail” instead of “track”. I have very recently read Dudley McCarthy’s:

The Official History of Australia in the War of 1939-1945 (Series 1 – Army,Vol 5, South-West Pacific Area – First Year, Kokoda to Wau by Dudley McCarthy) – pubished in 1959;

McCarthy refers to the track running from Owers Corner to Kokoda as the “Kokoda Track”. See for example the Preface at page xi.