Full History Of Nauru In Timeline From 1900

1900: Phosphate Discovered on Nauru

In 1900, phosphate was discovered on Nauru by Albert Fuller Ellis.

1904: Last Whaler Visit

In 1904, the last whaler visited Nauru during the Age of Sail.

1906: Pacific Phosphate Company began to exploit the reserves

The Pacific Phosphate Company began to exploit the phosphate reserves in Nauru in 1906 by agreement with Germany.

1907: First shipment of phosphate exported

In 1907, the first shipment of phosphate was exported from Nauru.

1914: Nauru captured by Australian Troops

In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Nauru was captured by Australian troops.

1919: Nauru Island Agreement

In 1919, the Allied and Associated Powers agreed that George V of the United Kingdom should be the administering authority under a League of Nations mandate and the Nauru Island Agreement was forged.

1920: Influenza epidemic

Angam Day, held on 26 October, celebrates the recovery of the Nauruan population after the two world wars and the 1920 influenza epidemic.

1920: Terms of the League of Nations mandate drawn up

In 1920, the terms of the League of Nations mandate were drawn up.

1923: League of Nations trustee mandate given to Australia

In 1923, the League of Nations gave Australia a trustee mandate over Nauru, with the United Kingdom and New Zealand as co-trustees.

December 1940: German auxiliary cruisers attack Nauru

On 6 and 7 December 1940, German auxiliary cruisers shelled Nauru's phosphate mining areas, oil storage depots, and the shiploading cantilever.

August 1942: Japanese Troops Occupied Nauru

On 25 August 1942, Japanese troops occupied Nauru.

March 1943: First Bombing of Airfields

On 25 March 1943, the Japanese-built airfields on Nauru were bombed for the first time, preventing food supplies from being flown in.

September 1945: Japanese Surrender

On 13 September 1945, Nauru was taken back from the Japanese, and commander Hisayaki Soeda surrendered the island.

January 1946: Repatriation of Nauruans from Chuuk

In January 1946, the 745 Nauruans who survived Japanese captivity were repatriated from Chuuk by the BPC ship Trienza.

1947: United Nations Trusteeship Established

In 1947, a trusteeship was established by the United Nations, with Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as trustees.

1948: Nauru Riots

In 1948, the Nauru riots occurred when Chinese guano mining workers went on strike over pay and conditions.

1951: Establishment of Nauru Local Government Council

In 1951, the Nauru Local Government Council was established.

1962: Robert Menzies said that the three countries involved in the mining had an obligation to provide a solution for the Nauruan people

In 1962, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies said that the three countries involved in the mining had an obligation to provide a solution for the Nauruan people, and proposed finding a new island for them.

1963: Australian Government proposed to acquire all the land on Curtis Island

In 1963, the Australian Government proposed to acquire all the land on Curtis Island and then offer the Nauruans freehold title over the island and that the Nauruans would become Australian citizens.

1964: Proposal to relocate the population of Nauru

In 1964, a proposal was made to relocate the population of Nauru to Curtis Island off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

January 1966: Nauru Became Self-Governing

In January 1966, Nauru became self-governing.

1967: People of Nauru purchased assets

In 1967, the people of Nauru purchased the assets of the British Phosphate Commissioners.

January 1968: Nauru Became Independent

In January 1968, Nauru became independent under founding president Hammer DeRoburt.

1968: Nauru joined the Commonwealth of Nations

Following independence in 1968, Nauru joined the Commonwealth of Nations as a Special Member.

1968: Nauru Gained Independence

In 1968, Nauru gained its independence.

1969: Nauru's national basketball team competed at the 1969 Pacific Games

In 1969, Nauru's national basketball team participated in the Pacific Games, securing victories against Solomon Islands and Fiji.

June 1970: Control of Phosphate Corporation Passed

In June 1970, control of the phosphate corporation passed to the locally owned Nauru Phosphate Corporation (NPC).

1970: Nauruan folk songs existed

In 1970, Nauruan folk songs were noted to exist, with "Oh Bwio Eben Bwio" being a particularly well-known example.

1981: GDP Peak

In 1981, Nauru's GDP peaked, driven by phosphate mining.

1987: University of the South Pacific Campus Built

In 1987, a campus of the University of the South Pacific was built on Nauru.

1989: Nauru took legal action against Australia

In 1989, Nauru took legal action against Australia in the International Court of Justice over Australia's administration of the island.

1991: Nauru admitted to the Asian Development Bank

In 1991, Nauru was admitted to the Asian Development Bank.

1991: High point of the Trust

In 1991, the value of Nauru's trust fund reached an estimated A$1.3 billion.

1992: Nauru Island Council in place

From 1992, Nauru had a local government system known as the Nauru Island Council (NIC).

1993: Failed Investment in Leonardo the Musical

In 1993, Nauru's trust financed "Leonardo the Musical" as one of its failed investments.

1999: Library Situation

As of 1999, a new community public library had not yet been built to replace the one that was destroyed in a fire, and no bookmobile services were available.

1999: Nauru became a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations and admitted to the United Nations

In 1999, Nauru became a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the country was admitted to the United Nations.

1999: Dissolution of Nauru Island Council

In 1999, the NIC was dissolved, and all assets and liabilities became vested in the national government of Nauru.

2001: Nauru accepted aid from Australia for hosting a Regional Processing Centre

Beginning in 2001, Nauru has accepted aid from the Australian Government in exchange for hosting the Nauru Regional Processing Centre.

2001: Detention Centre Provides Income

From 2001 to 2007, the Nauru detention centre provided a significant source of income for the country.

2001: The Tampa Affair

In 2001, the MV Tampa was refused entry to Australia and refugees were eventually taken to Nauru to be held in detention facilities as part of the Pacific Solution.

July 2002: Diplomatic Relations with PRC Established

On 21 July 2002, Nauru signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC).

2002: Trust Value Shrinks

By 2002, the value of Nauru's trust fund had shrunk to A$138 million (A$229 million in 2022 dollars).

2003: Introduction of Anti-Avoidance Legislation

In 2003, Nauru introduced anti-avoidance legislation under pressure from FATF, leading to the departure of foreign hot money.

2004: Sale of Properties to Finance Debts

In 2004, the Mercure Hotel in Sydney and Nauru House in Melbourne were sold to finance debts.

May 2005: Nauru Re-established Links with ROC

On 14 May 2005, Nauru re-established links with the Republic of China (ROC), severing ties with the PRC on 31 May 2005.

September 2005: Memorandum of Understanding Between Australia and Nauru

The September 2005 memorandum of understanding between Australia and Nauru provides Nauru with financial aid and technical assistance.

October 2005: FATF Lifts Non-Cooperative Designation

In October 2005, after satisfactory results from anti-avoidance legislation and its enforcement, FATF lifted the non-cooperative designation on Nauru.

November 2005: Refugee Numbers Reduced, Australian Aid Continues

By November 2005, only two refugees remained on Nauru from those initially sent there in 2001 as part of the Pacific Solution.

December 2005: Air Nauru Aircraft Repossession

In December 2005, Air Nauru's only Boeing 737 was repossessed.

2005: Estimated GDP Per Capita

In 2005, the CIA World Factbook estimated Nauru's GDP per capita at US$5,000.

June 2006: Air Service Resumes

In June 2006, normal air service resumed after Air Nauru replaced its aircraft with a Boeing 737-300 airliner.

2006: Repatriation of Immigrant Workers

In 2006, Nauru saw 1,500 people leave during a repatriation of immigrant workers from Kiribati and Tuvalu due to phosphate mining layoffs.

2006: Further Asylum Seekers Sent to Nauru

In late 2006, the Australian government sent further groups of asylum-seekers to Nauru.

2007: Detention Centre Provides Income

From 2001 to 2007, the Nauru detention centre provided a significant source of income for the country.

2007: Asian Development Bank Economic Report

In 2007, the Asian Development Bank economic report on Nauru estimated GDP per capita at US$2,400 to US$2,715.

2007: Further Asylum Seekers Sent to Nauru

In early 2007, the Australian government sent further groups of asylum-seekers to Nauru.

February 2008: Concerns over Detention Centre Closure

In February 2008, Foreign Affairs Minister Kieren Keke stated that the closure of the Nauru detention centre would result in 100 Nauruans losing their jobs and would affect 10% of the island's population.

July 2008: Nauruan government announced a port refurbishment programme

On 15 July 2008, the Nauruan government announced a port refurbishment programme, financed with US$9 million of development aid received from Russia (US$12.5 million in 2023).

2008: Initial Closure of Refugee Centre

In 2008, the refugee centre on Nauru was initially closed.

2009: Nauru Recognizes Abkhazia and South Ossetia

In 2009, Nauru became the fourth country to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two breakaway autonomous republics of Georgia.

2009: Life Expectancy

In 2009, life expectancy in Nauru was 60.6 years for males and 68.0 years for females.

2011: Population Census

In 2011, a census recorded the population of Nauru's districts.

2011: Household Gardens

In 2011, just 13% of households in Nauru maintained a garden or were involved in growing crops.

2011: University of New England Establishes Presence

Since 2011, the University of New England, Australia has established a presence on the island, supporting Nauruan teachers in earning education degrees.

August 2012: Re-adoption of the Pacific Solution

In August 2012, the Australian government re-adopted the Pacific Solution, leading to the re-opening of the refugee detention centre on Nauru.

August 2012: Re-opening of Detention Centre

In August 2012, the detention centre on Nauru was re-opened.

2012: Obesity Rate

In 2012, the obesity rate in Nauru was 71.7%.

2012: Food Poverty Incidence Rate

The Household and Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted for the year of 2012–2013 found that Nauruans have a food poverty incidence rate of 0, based on the Food Poverty Line (FPL) which "includes a daily intake of 2,100 calories per adult per day."

2013: Household and Income Expenditure Survey

The Household and Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted for the year of 2012–2013 found that Nauruans have a food poverty incidence rate of 0, based on the Food Poverty Line (FPL) which "includes a daily intake of 2,100 calories per adult per day."

2015: Nauru national rugby sevens team made its international debut at the 2015 Pacific Games

In 2015, the Nauru national rugby sevens team debuted internationally at the Pacific Games and competed in the Oceania Sevens Championship in New Zealand.

April 2016: Nauru became a member of the International Monetary Fund

In April 2016, The Republic of Nauru became the 189th member of the International Monetary Fund.

July 2017: OECD Upgrades Tax Transparency Rating

In July 2017, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) upgraded its rating of Nauru's standards of tax transparency to "largely compliant".

2017: Annual Income

In 2017, half of Nauruans were living on US$9,000 a year (approx. A$11,700 a year).

2017: Budget Forecast

The Nauru 2017–2018 budget, delivered by Minister of Finance David Adeang, forecast A$128.7 million in revenues and A$128.6 million in expenditures.

March 2018: Australian Court's Appellate Jurisdiction Ended

On 12 March 2018, the Australian court's appellate jurisdiction ended entirely after the Government of Nauru unilaterally ended the arrangement.

May 2018: Opening of Nauru Community Library

In May 2018, the Nauru Community Library officially opened in the new University of the South Pacific Nauru Campus building.

2018: Partnership with Deep Sea Mining Company

In 2018, the Nauru government partnered with DeepGreen, now Nauru Ocean Resources Inc (NORI), to harvest manganese nodules for sustainable energy technology.

2018: Mental Health Crisis in Nauru

In 2018, the situation in Nauru gained attention as a "mental health crisis", with an estimated thirty children suffering from traumatic withdrawal syndrome.

March 2020: State of Emergency Declared Due to COVID-19

In March 2020, specifically on 17 March 2020, a state of emergency was declared in Nauru in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Child Mortality Rate

In 2020, Nauru had one of the highest child mortality rates in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) region at 2.9%, according to a UNICEF study.

February 2021: Nauru announced withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum

In February 2021, Nauru announced it would be formally withdrawing from the Pacific Islands Forum.

July 2021: Population Count

As of July 2021, Nauru had 12,511 residents.

2021: Referendum Regarding Parliamentarians

In 2021, as a result of a referendum, naturalised citizens and their descendants are barred from becoming parliamentarians in Nauru.

2021: Modernization Project Delayed

In 2021, the modernization and expansion project of the former Aiwo Boat Harbor was expected to be completed but has been delayed due to technical and logistics issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Cost of resettling the Nauruans on Curtis Island

In 1963, the cost of resettling the Nauruans on Curtis Island was estimated to be £10 million (A$649 million in 2022).

2022: Highest Tobacco Smoking Rate

In 2022, Nauru had the world's highest tobacco smoking rate at 48.3%.

2022: Adjusted Value of Trust

In 2022, the A$138 million value of Nauru's trust fund from 2002 was equivalent to A$229 million.

2023: Closure of Detention Camp

By the middle of 2023, the detention camp in Nauru was totally emptied for the first time since it opened in 2012, with 4183 people having been detained there since 2012.