Introduction
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City in Viti Levu, FijiLautoka
Lau'toka (Fijian) लौटोका (Fiji Hindi)CityTappooCity and Vitogo Parade (shopping areas), Marine Drive and Lautoka MarketNicknames: Sugar CityViti Levu with Lautoka in the north westLautokaLocation in FijiCountry FijiIslandViti LevuDivisionWestern DivisionProvinceBaPopulation (2017) • Total71,573Time zoneUTC+12 (GMT +12) • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (GMT +13)Websitewww.lautokacitycouncil.com.fj
Lautoka (Fijian pronunciation: [lɔu̯toka] ⓘ, Fiji Hindi: लौटोका) is the second largest metropolitan area in Fiji. It is on the west coast of the island of Viti Levu, in the Ba Province of the Western Division. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane-growing region, the city has come to be known as the Sugar City. Covering an area of 32 square kilometres, it had a population of 71,573 at the 2017 census, the most recent to date.
Economic activities
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Lautoka is known as the Sugar City and the Cane Market because of its sugar cane belt areas. The main Lautoka Sugar Mill was founded in 1903, and is the city's biggest employer by far. Built for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji) (CSR) by workers from India and the Solomon Islands between 1899 and 1903, it hires some 1,300 employees today. Other industries include timber milling, garment manufacturing, distillery, brewery, jewellery, blending, steelworks, fishing, hatchery, domestic items, paints, and construction.
History
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The name of the city is derived from two Fijian words meaning "spear hit." According to an oral tradition, the name arose following a duel between two chiefs. As one speared the other, he was reported to have cried "Lau-toka!" ("Bull's eye!").
The first known European sighting of the Lautoka area took place on 7 May 1789. Captain William Bligh spotted and roughly charted the coasts of Lautoka while making his epic voyage to Timor, in the wake of the mutiny on the Bounty.
This city is central to sugar cane production in Fiji, and was populated by large numbers of indentured labourers working on the sugar cane plantations from the late 19th century onwards, many having come from India. In some respects, the city maintains a unique cultural identity in Fiji to this day, with a proud musical tradition linked to the early development of jazz.
During World War II, the US Navy built a base at Lautoka as part of Naval Base Fiji.
In 2012, Lautoka was announced as the administration capital of the western division.[citation needed]
