Cocos Islands Flag

Cocos (Keeling) Islands 6799

Made up of two flat, low-lying atolls and 27 coral islands, this Australian territory is located in the Indian Ocean 2 950 km n-w of Perth and 3 700 km west of Darwin. The total land area is 14 sq km and the population about 620. The capital is West Island while the largest settlement is Bantam (Home Island). First European sighting occurred in 1609 with the islands annexed to the British Empire in 1857.

In 1886 Queen Victoria granted the islands to the Scottish Clunies-Ross family in perpetuity and under this arrangement, the islands were subsequently cited as an example of a 19th century micronation. There followed a number of battles (Battle of Cocos 1914) and bombings of the Direction Island telegraph station by the Germans (WW1) and Japanese (WW2). Following administrations based in Sri Lanka and Singapore, control transferred to Australia in 1955. However, dissatisfaction with the Clunies-Ross feudal style of rule resulted in the Australian government forcing the family to sell the island for Aus$6 250 000. The last ruler, John Clunies-Ross lives in Perth in exile but his successors still inhabit the islands.

The islands are covered in coconut palms and experience a pleasant climate apart from occasional cyclones during the early months of the year. North Keeling Island is an atoll consisting of only one island with a land area of just over 1 sq km. The island is mostly made up of the Pulu Keeling NP (est 1995) and is uninhabited.

South Keeling Islands is an atoll of 26 islets and a total land area of 13 sq km. Only Home Island (ethnic Malays - 500 approx) and West Island (mostly ethnic Europeans - 120 approx) are populated. A Cocos dialect of Malay and English are the main languages and 80% of the Islanders are Sunni Muslim. Coconuts and copra are the islands' major exports and most necessities have to be imported from Australia. The Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd employs construction workers and stevedores, whilst the growing tourism industry employs others. There is a paved airport on West Island with scheduled flights from Perth and a lagoon anchorage.

Airport:
Cocos Islands Airport (CCK). Tel (08) 9162 6536.

Hospital:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Health Centre. Tel (08) 9162 7609.