Labasa Travel Guide

Northern · Fiji

About Labasa

Labasa (Fijian pronunciation: [lamˈbasa] , Hindi: लम्बासा) is a town in Fiji with a population of 28,500 at the 2010 census. Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three rivers – the Wailevu, the Labasa (after which the town is named), and the Qawa. The township (unlike in the past) is now less dependent on the sugar industry. The farmers' market offers seasonal produce and seafood. The main street is lined with small family-run businesses, supermarkets and restaurants offering a lively pedestrian thoroughfare. == History == The first investment in the territory was done by the British in 1893, with the founding of the Labasa Sugar Mill. Labasa town was established back in 1922, serving the sugar cane farms and farm workers with harvesting season resulting in significant seasonal employment. The initial urbanization and economic effort in Labasa was halted temporarily by a hurricane that hit Labasa back in 1929, damaging infrastructures significantly. By the 1930s new buildings started to sprout, including the "Jagannath, Nanhu and Company".