Lifau is a former town in the
East Timor exclave of
Oecussi-Ambeno. It was the first European settlement in the region.
Dominican brothers carried on missionary work on the north coast of Timor after
1556. In 1641 they arrived to Lifau and baptized the royal family of Ambeno. A permanent Portuguese settlement arose in the 1650s, as many Portuguese moved from their old colonial seat
Larantuka on
Flores to Timor in response to the Dutch colonial settlement in
Kupang in westernmost Timor (1653). Lifau remained the centre for Portuguese colonial activities for more than a century, and was headed by a governor after 1702. In 1769 the colonial capital was moved to
Dili due to military aggression from the Eurasian
Topasses who opposed the politics of the governor. After this date the place lost its significance, since the Topasses preferred to keep their residence in
Pante Macassar further to the east. Lifau is located close to the mouth of the
Tono River.
span id="coordinates">Coordinates 8°32′S 126°10′E / 8.533°S 126.167°E / -8.533; 126.167
