Balibo, in Bobonaro municipality near the border with Indonesian West Timor, is where five Australian-based television journalists, known as the Balibo Five, were killed by Indonesian forces on 16 October 1975, weeks before the full-scale invasion. The Balibo House Trust, an Australian charity, works with the Balibo community in their memory through education, health, training and heritage tourism.
Balibo Fort
The Trust restored the 18th-century Portuguese fort on the hill above the town, with the first stage completed in late 2013. Inside the walls you will find:
- Balibo Fort Hotel: heritage-style guest rooms, with more rooms in Balibo village and in nearby Maliana. See also our Balibo Fort Hotel listing.
- Café and restaurant: in the restored fort house, serving international and Timorese food with views across to Indonesia.
- Cultural centre and museum: opened in March 2015, on the history, language and culture of Timor-Leste.
- Balibo Fort Veterans’ Museum: opened in 2022, covering those who served in Timor-Leste from the Second World War through the resistance to the international peacekeeping missions.
- Events centre: seats up to 60 indoors, with gardens for larger outdoor events.
Income from the fort helps fund the Trust’s community work in Balibo, including a dental clinic and a kindergarten.
Visiting
- Getting there: Balibo is west of Dili along the north coast road via Batugadé, about 2.5 hours’ drive according to the hotel; allow longer and check road conditions locally. See our Balibó destination guide.
- Bookings: rooms and events through baliboforthotel.com.
- Combine with: the Balibo Five memorial sites in the town; ask at the fort for directions.
Contact
- Phone (Fort Hotel): +670 7777 4845
- Website: balibohouse.com
- Facebook: Balibo House Trust