A new plan was therefore devised under which a land line of communication was to be established running down the Ramu and Markham Valleys.
Its primary role was to prevent reinforcement of the Japanese garrison at Lae by establishing itself in a blocking position across the Markham Valley.
There were a number of suitable airfield sites in the Markham Valley; Blamey selected Nadzab as the most promising.
The highway begins in Lae and travels through the Markham Valley and the province of Morobe.
The 2/6th Independent Company had defeated the vanguard of Nakai's force and stopped his advance down the Markham Valley dead in its tracks.
The next day, Australian troops of the 9th Division went ashore in conjunction with a parachute landing in the Markham Valley.
Markham Valley is a geographical area in New Guinea.
The Markham Valley is approximately 160 km (100 miles) long and gains only a few hundred feet in elevation.
The division then advanced up the Markham Valley and down the Ramu Valley.
Along the coast and in the Markham Valley, the Austronesia family of languages predominate.