History of Noumea: this is a city that the Europeans first visited in 1851 by the British sailor, James Paddon. Later, the French annexed Noumea, and baptized it as the Port of France, its first name.

Since the French claimed the island, it has been used for industrial purposes. Its port also was used to transport French prisoners here. Its very prisoners were the first to exploit the findings of nickel and gold in the area.

In the 20th Century, Noumea was used as a military zone for the United States during WWII. Later, the place was left under the command of the Pacific Community. Time passed, and today Noumea is visited each year by tourists looking to enjoy its beaches, waves, and wind for the practice of kitesurf, windsurf, and surf, sun, and good climate. Because of this, Noumea has an important number of hotels, apartments, houses and chalets to rent for tourist accommodation needs.

Noumea hasn't lost its roots in nickel. It still contributes to the islands economy, both in creating employment and exporting. Today, it can be said that, in the Pacific Islands, Noumea is the most westernized city, causing an important contrast with the rest of the cities of the Island of New Caledonia.

In its last years, Noumea has had an important development, one of the most important in the South Pacific, with the building of new hotels and apartments. Its history has evolved greatly in the past 50 years, specifically since 1956, when it came to form part of the overseas territories of the Republic of France.