The completion of the refurbished Garrison Engineer Compound at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby marks a strategic infrastructure investment that strengthens the operational capability of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force while delivering broader economic and workforce benefits.
Delivered jointly by the PNG Defence Force and the Australian Defence Force over three years, the project highlights the depth of the PNG–Australia defence partnership and its growing focus on sustainable infrastructure development and skills transfer.
The upgraded compound provides a secure, purpose-built facility for Murray Barracks Garrison Engineers to store critical infrastructure equipment, tools and materials, improving efficiency and asset management across defence operations. The engineers play a central role in building and maintaining facilities that support PNGDF Headquarters, the Joint Operations Branch and the Force Support Battalion — all essential to the effective functioning of the national defence force.
Beyond core military infrastructure, the Garrison Engineers are responsible for maintaining housing for PNGDF personnel and their families across Port Moresby. This includes support for the Air Transport Wing, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, the Force Support Battalion, PNGDF Headquarters staff and maritime personnel based at HMPNGS Basilisk.
The project included the refurbishment of office spaces, the removal of more than 80 cubic metres of waste, and the construction of secure fencing and dedicated compounds for engineering teams. The upgrades are expected to extend asset life cycles, reduce operational downtime and lower long-term maintenance costs, aligning with best-practice infrastructure management.
PNGDF Support Commander Col. John Giregire said the Murray Barracks project demonstrates a scalable model for future defence infrastructure development.
“I would like to see this model of infrastructure and ‘self-help’ that has been completed in Murray Barracks duplicated to other PNGDF Barracks,” Giregire said.
A key economic and social outcome of the project is its contribution to skills development and employment pathways for young Papua New Guineans. The new facilities enable expanded collaboration between PNGDF Garrison Engineers and local vocational and apprenticeship programmes, including the Badili Vocational Training Centre and the Urban Youth Employment Project.
These partnerships provide hands-on trade experience while delivering practical infrastructure outcomes, supporting workforce readiness in construction, engineering and maintenance — sectors critical to PNG’s broader economic development.
Garrison Engineer Sgt. Martin Nelson said the impact of the upgraded facilities has been felt across both the workforce and training programmes.
“This project has boosted morale and means everyone wants to come to work and has the tools to do the job,” Nelson said.
“For the youth, we need to build their skills, and this place means we can do that.”
As Papua New Guinea continues to invest in infrastructure that supports national security, workforce development and employment creation, the Murray Barracks upgrade also reflects the broader PNG–Australia investment and development partnership. By aligning defence cooperation with skills training, local employment and long-term asset sustainability, the project shows how targeted aid and bilateral investment can deliver measurable economic returns while supporting nation-building priorities and shared regional stability.
