Details About Levuka

Experience and be part of a living heritage. Levuka is a trip back in time, to a Fiji that is still untouched from mass tourism and commerce, it's still the way Fiji used to be in the old days. Founded by trader and settlers as early as 1830, Levuka was the first permanent European settlement in the pacific islands. In years to come the place flourished and attracted cotton and coconut planters, sandalwood and beche de mer traders. Merchants arrived to set up businesses such as shops, bars and hotels. ships and sailors of every nationality visited and Levuka turned into a rowdy place where anarchy ruled. Local chiefs had trouble to maintain control and and the self-proclaimed king over Fiji Tui Cakobau and his fellow chiefs ceded the islands to the queen and Fiji became a British colony in 10 October 1874, that's when Levuka became Fijis' first capital. Law and order took over and very soon the first school of Fiji was build. Just a few years later the founders were concerned for lack of space and the problem difficulties this faced for the growth of the capital. So in 1871 the capital was moved to Suva, businesses and many people left and Levuka seemed to be doomed to stand still in time.