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Christmas Islands
Quick Overview:
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Geography:
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For centuries, Christmas Island's isolation and rugged coasts provided natural barriers to settlement. British and Dutch navigators first included the island on their charts from the early seventeenth century, and Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary, named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1643. He was unable to land, however, and it was not until 1688, when Captain William Dampier on the British ship Cygnet, landed at the Dales (on the West Coast) and two of his crewmen were the first recorded people to set foot on Christmas Island. During the 1872-76 HMS Challenger expedition to Indonesia, naturalist Dr John Murray carried out extensive surveys. At his urging, the British Admiralty annexed the 135 square kilometre island on 6 June 1888. But it was not until 1888 that Christmas Island was settled, when the Clunies-Ross brothers from neighbouring Cocos-Keeling Islands (some 900 kilometres to the south west) established a settlement at Flying Fish Cove to collect timber and supplies for the growing industry on Cocos. At the instigation of John Murray from England, phosphate extraction became the impetus behind the island's development. George Clunies-Ross and John Murray vied for the right to extract the phosphate until 1891 when the British Government offered them a joint 99 year lease in return for a small royalty. Small shipments began to be exported in 1895 and by 1897 they had formed the Christmas Island Phosphate Company. Clunies-Ross returned to Cocos-Keeling, and Murray became Chairman of the company. As there was no indigenous population, a work force had to be imported. Under the control of a Straits Settlement District Officer the initial contingent of 200 Chinese labourers, 8 European management personnel and 5 Sikh Policemen was brought onto the island in 1898. Despite difficulties due to climate and a vitamin-deficiency disease known as beri beri, their first major shipment of phosphate left the island in 1900. The mining operation proceeded successfully until World War II. The island was occupied by the Japanese between 1942-1945. A Japanese submarine torpedoed a Norwegian freighter, the Eisevold, that was loading phosphate in Flying Fish Cove, which later sank. Japanese aircraft made numerous bombing raids on Christmas island and with most of the women & children evacuated, the threat of invasion grew real. On 31st March 1942, a Japanese Fleet bombarded the Cove shore line and more than 900 troops came ashore. With the remaining Europeans imprisoned, the Japanese spent the first few weeks searching for the 1000 Malays and Chinese who had fled to the jungle. Most returned and were forced to work. Japanese attempts to profit from the mine were thwarted by acts of sabotage by the islanders and by Allied submarine attacks. By 1943 the Japanese were unable to maintain the island's food supplies, but solved this crisis by sending half the island's population to prison camps in Indonesia. For a short time following the war, Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new Colony of Singapore. In 1948, the mining was taken over by the Australian and New Zealand Governments in partnership, with the British Phosphate Commissioners in management. In the period from 1949 to 1958 a massive expansion program led to the recruitment of males from Cocos, Malaya & Singapore, bringing with them their wives & families. For the first time in the islands history a permanent population began to evolve. In 1957 the Australian government acquired Christmas Island from the Singapore Government for a compensation of 2.9 million pounds. The island existed as a Crown colony until its transfer to Australia was finalised on 1st October 1958, which is still celebrated on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. The Christmas Island Act 1958 provides the basis for the island's Administration. The head of Government is the Administrator, appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Federal Cabinet. Administration works closely with the community, the local Shire Council and the Union of Christmas Island Workers to keep the island running smoothly. Dramatic social and political changes occurred in the 1970's with the unionisation of the mine workers. The Union of Christmas Island Workers, "The Union", remains a strong force in island politics today, and, in conjunction with the Sweetland Enquiries of 1980 and 1982, has been responsible for dramatic improvements in living and working conditions. Also in the 1970's, conflicts between conservation and mining interests led to the company appoint a conservation officer in 1974. This was followed in 1977 by the appointment of a Government Conservator from the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. In 1980, a National Park was declared in the Egeria Point area. The National Park now covers over 65% of the island. Around this time, Australia and New Zealand Governments re-negotiated their agreement for provision of phosphate to the two countries. As part of this process, the British Phosphate Commissioners relinquished the management of the mine to the newly formed Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island (PMCI) in 1981. As deposits of preferred quality phosphate neared exhaustion, the mining operation faced economic constraints and probable closure. Initial steps in this direction were two generous redundancy schemes in 1984 and 1986.The Government created the Christmas Island Services Corporation to relieve the mining operation of community services such as housing, domestic roads, street lighting, swimming pools and cinemas. 1984 also saw the benefits of Australian Citizenship extended to the island in the form of social service benefits and voting in Commonwealth elections. Taxation was also introduced. The effects of drought and low phosphate prices led to a Government decision to close the mine in December 1987. In 1991 the mine was bought back by union workers and reopened as Christmas Island Phosphates and continues to supply the South East Asian market with phosphate mined from old stockpiles. They also fund a rainforest rehabilitation programme operated by Parks Australia to restore old mining areas. Pressure to find an alternative industry saw the government lend its support to a multi million dollar casino development which officially opened in 1993. The Christmas Island Resort, along with regular flights from South East Asia influenced the development of a burgeoning tourism industry with several tour operations and other accommodation outlets now operating. (Note: gaming facilities at the casino are temporarily closed) The island has also been chosen as a suitable site for a space satellite launching station. A decision for the Asia Pacific Space Centre project will be determined by an Environmental Impact Study which is nearly complete.
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