Wau

Wau is a town in Papua New Guinea, in the province of Morobe. It has a population of approx 5,000 and situated at an altitude of around 1300m.

Wau was the site of a goldrush during the 1920's and 30's. Propective gold diggers arrived at the coast at Salamaua and struggled inland along the Black Cat Track.

During World War II the Australian Army stopped an advance by the Japanese in 1943. A road was established soon after to Lae and this later helped create local industries of timber and agriculture once gold petered out.