Aoré Island

Aore is one of the larger islands in the archipelago and forms the natural harbour of the Segund Chanel at Luganville on the largest Vanuatu island; Espiritu Santo. The road around the island is navigable but the southern side of the is largely uninhabited and undeveloped.
Before Vanuatu independence in 1980, the island was divided into large French plantation holdings growing coconuts, coffee and citrus and herding cattle.

All land in the south pacific is customary leasehold, meaning the leases are struck with a local customary owner. However, some leases, such as in the case of Freshwater Plantation there is no customary land owner and the lessor is the Minister of Lands.

The map below shows shaded some of the original plantations. Freshwater Plantation was once part of the largest Aoré Plantation, Picardie also known as the Radard Plantation after its French owner.