Rev. Neville A. Threlfall, who was a Methodist missionary in New Britain, is a historian and writer. His published works include, One hundred years in the islands: the Methodist/United Church in the New Guinea Islands Region, 1875-1975, Rabaul, 1975; and Volcano town: the 1937-43 eruptions at Rabaul, Bathurst, N.S.W, c1985, with R.W. Johnson.

Contents:
An unpublished history of Rabaul and East New Britain, PNG, Ts., 2 vols., 682pp., arranged as follows:
Prologue. The Town that Shouldn’t Be. p.1
Part I. Before the Town
Chapter 1. A Harbour without Shipping, p.3
Chapter 2. Ships Arrive, 1700-1884, p.27
Chapter 3. A German Colony, 1884-1902, p.48
Part II. A Town and its People
Chapter 4. A Town is Born, 1902-1910, p.76
Chapter 5. A Cosmopolitan Community, 1910-1914, p.104
Chapter 6. No More ‘um Kaiser, 1914-1915, p.138
Chapter 7. The Long Occupation, 1914-1921, p.162
Chapter 8. The New Masters, 1921-1930, p.185
Chapter 9. The Non-Masters, 1921-1930, p.217
Chapter 10. Depression and Development, p.240
Part III. A Town Destroyed
Chapter 11. Eruption and Evacuation, 28 May-6 June 1937, p.259
Chapter 12. Future Uncertain, 1937-1939, p.298
Chapter 13. Shadows of War, Sep 1939-Dec 1940, p.325
Chapter 14. The Shadows Deepen, 1941, p.338
Chapter 15. War with Japan, Dec 1941-Jan 1942, p.359
Chapter 16. The Fall of Rabaul, 20-23 Jan 1942, p.377
Chapter 17. Under New Rulers, 1942, p.398
Chapter 18. Withering on the Vine, 1943-1945, p.417
Chapter 19. Peace in a Wasteland, Aug 1945-Jun 1946, p.439
Chapter 20. Not to be Rebuilt, 1946-51, p.457
Part IV. The Town Lives Again
Chapter 21. Rabaul Rebuilding, 1952-60, p.496
Chapter 22. Prosperity and problems, 1961-70, p.540
Chapter 23. The Mataungans March, 1969-1970, p.566
Chapter 24. A Year of Shocks, 1971, p.592
Chapter 25. Towards Independence, 1972-1975, p.617
Chapter 26. Facing the Future, 1975-1984, p.641
Epilogue. The Town That Is, and Shall Be, p.655
Bibliography and List of Sources, p.664