This is Korowere. My family and I used to live here till daddy retired and I moved to the village with them.. My brothers were still working so they stayed behind and moved to a house in Matanagata. I was born in Vatukoula but now I am a Canadian citizen living in Port Coquitlam BC, Canada. Vatukoula will always be home.

Very interesting, I was born in 1958 in Korowere, Vatukoula and moved to Suva with my family in 1975 and then I moved to England in 1977. My father had a barbershop next to the library. I still live in England but miss Vatukoula so much. The weather, the fruit trees, nice smelling flowers, the tropical look of palm trees and plants, the clean compound of the local Fijians and many more.

6:43 From this shot behind the road heading downhill on the left (about 400m) you will come to a creek crossing. The creek is called Vunisina and the area is called near Lololevu. It is around that creek around November 5th 1932, Bill Borthwick and Pat Sinclair camped there and discovered gold. That was the beginning of Vatukoula Gold Mine.

I was born in Vatukoula Gold mine We had 5 different mango trees and 1tamarind tree. We use to play with our Fijian nabours. It's been nearly 50 years since we moved from there but I can still speak Fijian language.

This is what we expect from our local TV stations.

Fiji used to be in 1948 the 20th highest gold producer in the world. Fiji also had magnesium mine aswell.

Iam from Sigatoka where Fiji's biggest sand dune is a historical site , it is so sad that now living in New Zealand, there are so many places in Fiji that I never got the opportunity to either visit or see . Fiji is one place of paradise that we all citizens of Fiji living overseas should go back to visit at least once and see all these beautiful sites and places. Azeem thank you very much for such informative videos ; please if you get time out of your busy schedule do one on Sigatoka Sand dunes and the town and market. Sigatoka is known as the Salad Bowl of Fiji. Keep up your good work really nice;

Thanks for sharing sir@ the Pale Blue Dot This brings back many fond memories childhood beginning 1983-1989, from 6-12yrs old(mid 40s now) and attended Vatukoula Government School. It was a beautiful colonial style school buildings back then. My head teacher was Mr. Bower. Best teacher ever! My stepfather worked in the Vatukoula Gold Mines and we happen to have lived in Matanagata, Lololevu and Newtown(North of Loloma). People lived well, they made good money and did well for themselves. It was interesting to see how much the houses and roads have deteriorated and not much progress since then. I recall having asthma from the poor air quality and water quality was poor that resulted from gold mining. Nevertheless people were friendly and grateful with what they have. I also recall how many funerals my parents attended. Many died from the working there. It would be interesting to get a head count. I don't think there was much compensation from the Gold Mines Company. People were passive and were grateful to be employed and didn't care much to protest about the poor working conditions nor the living conditions. I hope to do visit someday. God Bless Vatukoula. Thank You.

I've heard a lot about Vatukoula but i never had the chance to actually drive through and have a good look around. This is a historical place which has its significance in the economy of Fiji. Loving the tour bro and talking to the locals.

Hello "The Pale Blue Dot" - great to see you doing a story on Vatukoula and yes it is surprising how people actually living in Fiji never ventured to Vatukoula. This is my home town too...like many of those that have commented before me - very special place and lovely memories. Hope you don't mind but just wanted to clarify that the building that is still standing in Korowere, opposite the old Post Office was actually a Grocery Store/Bakery and was started by my Grandfather, later run by my father...so actually was my family home. The movie theatre/library/(later) gym building, the MH building which were both to the left of our Store/Home have all been destroyed over the year after a couple of cyclones. Those concrete steps that are left there is the 'Old MH' building

Thank you brother Azeem for this wonderful video. Very informative for those of us who have never been to Vatukoula. Can't wait for the next one.

Visited this place in 1968. Seemed a thriving community. Beautiful vegetation. Hard work in the gold mine. Nice to see it again.

Loved this! Worked in the pit for 9 years before moving on... some of the best years of my life... 1997 to 2006!

My dad worked at that post office for good 8 years I used to do the lawns and eat breadfruit from the very tree used to be a beautiful place back than

I've been to Fiji four times (between 2007 and 2016) and but was never introduced to this town or the goldmines. I plan to go back and will definitely add this location to my list of things to do.

Thank you 'The Pale Blue Dot' for putting Vatukoula on your channel. Lots of memories dina.

Thanks for your vlog, really interesting since my family lives in Lololevu where my dad works at the Gold mine. As you mentioned about the old post office & right opposite it was the old Fong Lee shop, besides the shop remains the foundation of the old MH & further up use to be a 2 storey building , upstairs used to be the old Emperor Theatre, bottom floor use to the Library & also a barber shop owned by Ishmael who lives down in Lololevu. Late 1970s when the old MH was relocated to Tavua and the old building was used as a Worksop. I grew up in Lololevu as a kid attended the then Vatukoula Govt Fijian School from 1971 to 1978 & left Vatukoula for higher education in Lodoni. That shop used to be our waiting place to catch the bus to school. It brings back alot of wonderful memories as a kid.

Omg....what a beautiful video ,i have worked at EGM for 6 year before migrating to NZ...really miss those happy days...buying fish lolo for $2.50 with casava in it.This was every Friday near my office in Green house.I was in IT department those day and use to to travel from Rakiraki everyday.God bless all.

Ahh Loloma, Vatukoula is my home🥰 Children of Gold Mine Workers ✊🏽

Very informative history video, Sir. All the locals are so friendly and knowledgeable about their own local culture, Just a thought...........if Fiji is mining for Gold & previously magnesium, where is all this money going too? Obviously not to the locals. Such a shame like all over the world, big corporations and advance countries take advantage of the smaller nations.

MH-Morris Hedstrom Supermarket. The Suva branch was destroyed in a fire in the 90s. It was located next to Nabukalou Creek. I was in high school when it happened. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was Fiji's President and Sitiveni Rabuka was the Prime Minister.Stories appeared in the Fiji Times that the fire was caused by a faulty electric fan or it was deliberately burned by arsonists.

Such well kept gardens, and the lovely flowers.

wow.. I miss this place I was working @ Vatukoula gold mines from June 2009 to August 2012 as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Those houses are very much like the ones at Wau and Bulolo in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬. It's also a colonial gold mining township

Nice to see again the places i been leaving and working in 5years.Fijian people's are always smiling and friendly. I wish you walking around in loloma area when i stayed in before.nice video.

Isa, Korowere. My Aunty use to work in that old post office, my grandfather worked in the mines n all my uncles and Aunty’s use to attend the Convent Catholic Sch, we lived in my grandfather’s house were you can see the movies going on across from our huge kitchen window…🤣 the Korowere shop use to be a bakery and yes it was operated by a Chinese family than a grossers and than to MH. It’s a pity no one showed you the old fish market.As of today my cousin’s still live in Vatukoula and work in the mines. Bring’s back beautiful memories watching this… thanks mate.

Thank y Pale Blue ○. Enjoyed this including the comments. Took students on Field trips to Vatukoula a few times. They also had their own radio station and the miners be listening from under. Appreciated

So sad that with the wealth that came out of there with the gold, not much was done to the settlement, would've been good to see better housing and a decent playground for the children. Nevertheless in true Fijian spirit they all seem happy with the basics. Thank you for uploading, so inspiring your work. I've just subscribed to your channel. I lived in NZ for 49 years came here when I was 1 and a half years old in 1973. Watching your videos is giving me a deep urge to come back home soon. So interesting to see a land I was born in and never really made the time to connect with 🤙

that was very interesting, we hardly get to see Vatukoula until you bring it to light and did a wonderful job of it..

Love your videos man. Keep doing what you do.

I was just thinking to myself when you started walking through the yard at 9.07 and thought man this fala know it's Fiji, should look out for dogs 😅 then you asked the young guys if there were any. Great video. Enjoyed it very much

Wow... interesting and thank you for sharing Vatukoula with us. Now that things have opened up, looking forward to more updates

Thanks for doing this. Much appreciated.

Came across your channel today . Loved the vlog on Vatukoula. Subscribed already. Looking forward to more amazing content on Fiji.

Thanks for the video. Brings back childhood memories of school holiday at Korowere. My mothers sister was teaching at Marist convent and use to live at the I think teachers quaters beyond the gym. They had to relocate because of the mining.I remembed the house more like the ground was shaking everyday. Next to the quarters you can see mine works going on.

Wow such a amazing video,lots to learn.Waiting for more, thanks a lot.

Your vlog is absolutely lovely. It's my first time in Vatukoula too. However, traveling it with you gives me free additional information.

Omg ♥️♥️ I love this so much and also love watching your vlogs ... Keep the Awesome and great content coming 😊😊

Another interesting episode. Keep them coming.

Thank you so much to make this video

Great Job again. Incredible history

Bula to you The Pale Blue Dot thanku for ypur blog about vatukoula its been years now i haven't been to my home town again ❤but thanks to you i get to watch your blog and i get to think back the old times living at the bottom gate is where i use to live with my grandparents .bottom gate there a only 2 houses there the 2nd house is where i lived in my childhood time ❤i attended Goldfield Primary school 👌my best and happy memories was living in vatukoula ❤❤thanku Pale Blue Dot

woww I didnt know we had those kind of "tank houses" in fiji.. learned something new today. btw Gr8 content!

I use to work at vatukoula Love your local videos bro keep up the good work

Ive lived in Fiji my entire life mainly in the Suva area. Have only passed Vatukoula along the highway but never gotten off to actually tour the place. My mum was born and raised here before she moved to Suva. Your video is very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thank You mate for the good explaining. I work underground in the Vatukoula gold mine.

Thank you for refreshing my memory Just further up the hill (old post office) was vatukoula playcenter Thanks and God bless

Wowzaaa - Azeem, thank you so so much for this trip down memory lane. Brought back so much memories of me a youngster back in the early 80s going to school at the old Vatukoula Govt Fijian School. I think in your video, it showed the school now known as Vatukoula Primary School. Korowere, Matangata & Loloma brought back a lot of memories but next time Azeem, try to visit the Gaunavou Housing Authority (Low Cost as it's known as) as there's a lot of people that live there too. Also, try & find the Goldfield Primary school, this is where a lot of the expat kids went to. Now I live in Melbourne, Australia but Vatukoula will always have a piece of my childhood.

Very interesting vlog 🤩👌

What an abundance of beautiful trees and vegetation.

Wow so interesting..and it's good to know some history of places in Fiji. Great teachings.. Love your blog!! Thank you!!

I'm acthird generation miner.love it.was bustling back in the days

All these houses need urgent Renovations. ASAP! God bless Vatukoula. Viti kei Vuravura Dina. God bless Marist Convent school and all the other schools. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Wow this is awesome my mum was born in vatukoula my grandpa worked in the gold mines many many years ago. Much love from Aotearoa NZ❤👍

Thanks very much for documenting a piece of history for this place. Soon the area will no longer be remembered after old establishment will be removed through renovations or by hurricanes.

Bula Azeem...so nice to see the old gold Town again after many years. I had an uncle who lived there with his family so I spent a few holidays up there. Loved every minute of it...such an adventurous place. Didn't really notice it at the time but now viewing your vlog it's interesting to see the physical manifestation of colonization and the segregation of races by living quarters. A testament to that time I guess. But interesting indeed. Vinaka for sharing.🙏🌺

Isa Vatukoula..brought up in Matanagata Thank you for this video

I wish this settlement is registered into Fiji's National Heritage Trust. Total neglect by their local government there. God bless resilient Fijians.

Bula! This is wonderful and very interesting, Azeem👌👌 Definitely need to make a trip soon. Thanks so much for sharing. Vinaka ☘️

You know the entrance of vatukoula Gold mine,you should've come inside that road and you'll see many different houses inside and they are technically interested and loloma backroad its good to see🤷‍♀️👋

@The Pale Blue Dot at 24:40 that's the very house where Leone Nakarawa (Fiji 7's Rep) grew up in.

Wow me and my family with two other families used to live at Cayzer Shaft before in early 90's which is in Korowere .. Haven't been there after that .. In those days Post Office was still there .. Good old memories!

Probably the mine shafts out that way.....very interesting

When I lived n Korowere, the shop was Fong Lee at the corner then there was MH and then it was the library.

As a fijian who lives overseas, I've now learnt a bit more about Vatukoula and how lovely the people are. I now hope to visit and appreciate Vatukoula on my next trip home 🙂

Isaaa my home town 😍❤

I was very lucky because i once ha been working as a cop at vatukoula with some of my great grat workmate......thank you from namoli village ltk

I thought it a most interesting area Even the bus ride I enjoyed.

The simplicity where you just roll up to someone's windows and start talking to a kid lol..

Bula Azeem..One of the houses you pointed to is where an Olympian was raised..Leone Nakarawa if you've heard of him.

Born n bred in Vatukoula....vinaka for this maan

I left fiji in 1993, it was call MH as in Morris Hadstrom I think 🤔

I'm not from Fiji, but want to visit some day 😄

Azeem I had relatives and friends who worked and lived in Vatukoula in them thar days, totally ignorant of the racial and social divides. The iTaukei were the lowest. The Rotumans were even regarded above them. Their Surburbs were called Quarters!

The tank houses look like old Nissan huts.

Out with the old and in with the New. Upgrade mada Fijian government. God bless our beloved beautiful Nation Fiji.

Well done! I remembered my Rotuman girlfriend! There used to be a lot of Rotumans that lived in Vatukoula. Also, back in the day, the gold miners were so overworked that family time suffered, and they actually went on a strike because they wanted additional time for sex added to their lunch break...!!!

Thats not the old MH ..thats fong lees shop then became Tim Foos shop now belong to the Whippys..The MH is next to the shop with only the steps visible..then the road that leads to the Lesleys next to the road is the library/cinema..after the library there is a volley ball court...to the left of that is the training centre.

It very busy during the gold rush in the 1800s.

Do a USP tour during Covid and one after Covid ends

Please show more of what you filming not so much of your face vinaka nice filming keep up the great job and info

Can you do a video of valley road and the caves there

Gold stone Dina. Isa! Lei.! Ara na yadra and Malo a bula.

I'll be traveling there Did you have to get a vaccine to enter Fiji Meaning proof of vaccine? Was a qurateene time needed....I'm hearing 10 days qurateene Thank you for your reply

I have a friend live in matanagata called NOSMAN..NOERI LELEACAGI 🙏 HE DIE DURING RUGBY MATCH IN VATUKOULA. But I live in NORCAL...94102

I recognize this place- Korowere.

6:18 Xavier my current school 😊

Vinaka Azeem

Seems like Everyone speaks good English in Vatukoula .

Does fiji gives money to KZfaq's

When did the Chinese took over the mine

You seem to walk through a lot of private property. Even private cemeteries. I hope other tourists watching your videos don't think its okay - privacy and respect for people is in Fiji too.

Is this Azeem the lawyer ? London educated ?

Interesting VLog. However, can you please handle that camera better and just focus on areas that will interest the general public. All we seeing is your hat and double sunnys..Good info shared tho. Can do better next time mate. Could have started from the actual mine itself then onto the accomodation areas..Cheers toodle-oo