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Location

Location

Santo's
Fitting Site

Where it stands

The South Pacific World War II Museum has been granted a parcel of land beside Unity Park, at the western end of Luganville’s main street.

During the Second World War, this same area formed part of a United States Navy Patrol Boat (PT) base, positioned on the banks of the Sarakata River.

To help visualise the site, we have overlaid the long-term architectural plan for the museum onto a satellite image of the area. By clicking on the camera icons, you can view architectural renderings of the completed buildings from each position. Yellow arrows indicate the direction each image is facing.

For a wider satellite view of the site, click on the thumbnail below.

This masterplan represents the long-term vision for the museum. The first stage is a single, striking building inspired by the distinctive World War II Quonset huts—structures that once defined much of Luganville’s wartime landscape.

Aerial view of a modern building design with pathways and surrounding landscape

Click on the camera icons above and you’ll get some idea as to where the Museum project is heading long term. Of course, this has to be approached in stages and right now we’re taking things one stage at a time. Head over to our Stage 1 page and you’ll see what we’ve got planned.

If you’d like to see the image of the museum site a little larger click on the image to the right.

Aerial view of a coastal town with a modern building complex near the water.
Exterior view of a single-story house with a covered patio and tropical trees.
The museum building as it was pre-2017.
Construction workers installing track lighting in a new building location.
The 2023 renovations well underway.

The first step

The Museum began with the restoration of an existing building on the edge of the site, now home to the South Pacific WWII Museum.

Though modest in size, it houses a growing and compelling collection of artefacts and stories, offering visitors an introduction to Santo’s remarkable wartime history and the vision for what lies ahead.

In 2023, the museum was expanded with the support of the New Zealand High Commission and the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu. This extension can be seen on the right-hand side of the site plan, where the two new access roads meet.

Looking ahead, plans for 2026 include further expansion, with the addition of a library and research centre, expanded exhibition space, and improved storage facilities.

Why here matters

The museum site sits within easy reach of Luganville’s waterfront, an area regularly visited by cruise ships and a key gateway for tourism in the region.

With a new multi-million-dollar shipping terminal located just to the east, the area is set to play an even greater role in supporting Luganville’s growing visitor economy. The wharf—now the longest in the South Pacific—can accommodate two cruise ships simultaneously.

In this setting, the museum is ideally placed to connect visitors directly with the history of Santo and the wider Pacific war.

Explore the Site

Watch a short drone video showing the museum site beside the Sarakata River in Luganville, filmed during the renovation of the Development Office.

A Moment in History

View the ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the SS President Coolidge, alongside the opening of the Development Office and mini-museum in Unity Park.