Noumea Log Out
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 23 Nov 2015 23:57
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Logging Out of
Noumea
 Off we went to begin the logging out process, map in hand to find
the three offices needed. Immigration shuts at eleven o’clock for the day so
they were first on the list. Stamped papers and to Customs and then on to the
Port Captain who issues the clearance paperwork. A lovely sunny day with a good
bimble ahead. Once again Quarantine didn’t want to bother with us and asked us
to take the sealing tape off our freezer.......... Three quarters of the way to
our first stop we walked by The Old Customs House.
The Penitentiary Administration had
this building erected near the quayside in 1885. It was used as a store.
Abandoned with the end of convict transportation, the use of the building was
transferred to the Customs Service in 1910 who occupied the ground floor. The
premises were shared with the Tax Department until 1938 and then with the
Immigration Services. During the Second World War the Bernheim book collection
was kept here.
From 1948 the Employees Welfare
Office, the Chamber of Agriculture and the agricultural financial
institution [Credit agricole mutuel] were
housed here. The Customs Service returned to the building in 1976 and carried
out extensive renovation works. These offices were taken over by the Territory
in 1996.
A vast warehouse adjoined the
building in which were stocked all the foodstuffs and clothing equipment for the
convicts and the Penitentiary staff. Later the warehouse was used for commercial
exhibitions before becoming a centre for the Postal Service and the State
Tobacco Company. Demolished in 1998, a new central sorting office has been
erected on the site.
   Forged
bills in a display case at the Customs House. Todays
notes are really rather pretty.
 The main hospital of
Noumea.
 The view from the Port
Captains Office across to the marina.
 The rest of the
office.
 The view over the
main container port in the bay on the other side of the headland from us
– or a ten mile sail away.
 In the corridor was a set of maps and charts of all the islands in the world,
many with corresponding old photographs. Amazing how many we have
visited.
      Some of the pictures depicting the mining and quarrying of New Caledonia – rich in a
variety of ores.
  A container
picker took up the whole width of the road. Customs
Offices.
  Paperwork all done, we bimbled along
the main road heading back to
Beez.
   Sadly, the Maritime Museum was closed
so we only got to see a red buoy outside and a landing craft – information
board all in French.......
 By the fence to the museum was a lady in for unloading.
  A memorial in the
park to our left.
 Looking across from the park to the marina.
 Looking toward the
town. Time for a cold one.......
ALL IN ALL A NICE BIMBLE FOR
A FIRST MATE
A GOOD HIKE BUT A VERY EASY PROCESS X
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