2025/10/02 by William M. Cavert · 1 voice
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #American Environmental and Regional History #Canadian Identity and History #Historical Economic and Social Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/00223344.2025.2576735
openalex publication_date 2025/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/11/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
During the early 20th century, the Pacific phosphate rush swept over Walpole Island, bringing it into closer orbit with New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia, and broader circuits of contract labour. The island’s integration into a ‘Sea of Phosphate’ pushed and pulled people, capital, animals, labour, and rocky deposits between colonial ports, fields, and boardrooms. This article delves into the reshaping of Walpole by French and British investors, administrators, and companies. The article traces the island’s journey through newspapers, magazines, and government reports to uncover the contentious relationship between British and French imperial interests as they debated the future of the island in relation to their colonial projects.