1. The Kokoda campaign was fought in the Australian mandated territories of Papua and New Guinea between the advancing Japanese army troops and Australian troops across the Kokoda Trail from 29 July – 2 November 1942.
  2. The major battles fought during the Kokoda campaign were on Ioribaiwa Ridge, Brigade Hill, Templeton’s Crossing, Eora Creek, Isurava, Deniki and Kokoda.
  3. ‘Kokoda Trail’ is the name of the Battle Honour, awarded to the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the 10 Australian battalions who fought in the Kokoda campaign, by the Commonwealth Battles Nomenclature Committee in 1953 – it is also the official name recommended by the PNG ‘Geographic Place Names Committee’ and approved by the PNG Government in 1972 (PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972, page 1362, column 2. Notice 1972/28 refers).
  4. The geographic boundaries of the Kokoda Trail, gazetted by the PNG Government in 1972, extend to `10 metres either side of the tracks over which the Kokoda campaign was fought between Owers Corner and Kokoda’
  5. The length of the Kokoda Trail is 138 km with a total climb of 7150m and a total descent of 7570m from Owers Corner to Kokoda – the highest point is 2320m east of Mt Bellamy between Lake Myola and the Kokoda Gap.
  6. The boundary between Central Province and Oro Province is Templeton’s Crossing which is 83 km from Owers Corner and 55 km from Kokoda.
  7. The memorial at Isurava was officially opened by Prime Ministers’ John Howard and PNGs Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare on 26 August 2002, the 60th anniversary of the battle.
  8. The traditional landowners of the Kokoda Trail are the Koiari people between Owers Corner and Templeton’s Crossing, and the Orokaiva between Templeton’s Crossing and Kokoda.
  9. Prior to World War II the Kokoda Trail was a mail route used by villagers to carry documents across the Owen Stanley Ranges on bush tracks connecting remote villagers between Sogeri and Kokoda – mail exchange points were established to allow carriers to swap loads with others coming from the opposite direction and return to their villages.
  10. The Kokoda Trail is now PNGs most popular tourism destination.

Sun-Herald Newspaper: 11 August 1947

2/3rd Infantry Battalion AIF Regimental Battle Honours

39th Battalion Regimental Flag displaying Battle Honour: Kokoda Trail

Major Charlie Lynn and Alex Rama at Kokoda – 1992

Sign at Owers Corner – 1992

Sign at Kokoda – 1994

Sign on hut at Alola Village:1992 – 2024

Sign at McDonald’s Corner

Sign at Owers Corner – 1994

Sign at Kokoda Airfield – 2008