Australia - Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Population: 600 (2007)

Time: GMT plus 6.5hr

Currency: Australian dollar (A$)

Geography

The territory lies in the Indian Ocean, 2,768km north-west of Perth. It consists of two atolls made up of 27 small coral islands. Only two of them – West and Home – are inhabited. The largest island, West Island, is about 16km by 0.5km in area. North Keeling Island lies 24km north of the main lagoon.

Area: 14 sq km

Topography: The islands are flat and low-lying. The northern part of the main atoll, which surrounds a lagoon, has anchorage, but navigation is difficult.

Climate: Generally equable (temperatures 22–32°C), with south-east trade winds for much of the year and occasional violent storms. Rainfall is high, averaging 2,000mm a year.

Vegetation: The main atoll has extensive vegetation and coconut palms.

Wildlife: Birdlife is abundant, with both sea birds (terns, gannets and petrels) and land birds which have reached the islands from Indonesia.

Transport/Communications: A ship sails from Singapore and Perth, Australia, every few weeks. The airport is on West Island and there are regular flights from Perth. The international dialling code is 61.

Society

Population: 600 (2007); population density 43 per sq km (2007); the population of Home Island (about two-thirds of the total) is mostly of Malay, and West Island of Australian descent.

Religion: Muslims 80%, others 20%.

Language: English and Malay.

Media: Mainland Australian TV and radio programmes are relayed to the islands.

Education: Free and compulsory from age six to 15. There is one primary school from kindergarten to Year 6 and one secondary from Years 7 to 12.

Economy

Overview: There is local fishing and domestic cultivation of vegetables, bananas and pawpaws, but the islands are not self-sufficient in food.

Tropical reef fish are exported, and the islands offer specialist diving and fishing holidays and eco-tourism.

History

The islands were all uninhabited in 1609 when Captain William Keeling (East India Company) visited them. In 1826 John Clunies-Ross (joined a year later by Alexander Hare) started to set up various small settlements on the main atoll and established the copra industry, bringing in Chinese, Malay and African workers. Annexed by Britain in 1857, the islands were placed under the Governors of Ceylon in 1878; in 1886 they became part of the Straits Settlements. Later they were part of the Colony of Singapore. In 1955 they were transferred to Australian sovereignty; in April 1984 the inhabitants voted by referendum (observed by UN observers) for integration with Australia, and became Australian citizens. In 1978 the government bought the greater part of the land owned by the Clunies-Ross family under a grant in perpetuity made in 1886; the rest of the family’s property, which was on Home Island, was bought in 1993.

Administration

The territory is managed by an administrator (appointed by Australia’s governor-general), who is responsible to the minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council is responsible for local government. The territory is part of the Northern Territory electoral district; like all Australian citizens, the residents vote in parliamentary elections.