Forte de Balibó & Casa dos Balibo Five
An 18th-century hilltop Portuguese fortress with sweeping ocean panoramas, coupled with the memorial to the five journalists killed in 1975.
Illustrative photo · Ministry of Tourism & Environment, Timor-Leste
Forte de Balibó & Casa dos Balibo Five
Perched on a cool, windswept ridge overlooking the Savu Sea and the rugged borderlands of western Timor, Balibo Fort is one of the most impressively restored heritage sites in the nation. Thick stone walls mounted with antique cannons enclose a tranquil courtyard, while nearby, the Balibo Community Learning Centre memorializes the journalists who gave their lives to tell Timor’s story.
Videos about Forte de Balibó & Casa dos Balibo Five
The story of this place
Built in the early 1600s by Portuguese forces to secure the western border of Timor against Dutch expansion, Balibo Fort was a strategic military strongpoint for centuries. On October 16, 1975, five young foreign television journalists (the 'Balibo Five') were killed here by invading Indonesian troops while reporting on covert border incursions.
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From people who’ve been
Tips & notes
• Balibo Five Flag House: Moving memorial museum dedicated to the Australian, British, and New Zealand newsmen killed here in October 1975.
• Boutique Heritage Hotel: Tastefully restored hotel and restaurant with 180-degree terrace views.
