Christmas Island#Japanese invasion

File:Ah Dampier, you would have made them but a sorry meal. (Dampier and Swan on the Cygnet).jpg (left) and Charles Swan (right) aboard the latter's ship Cygnet, as illustrated in a work by Jules Verne. Dampier was the first visitor to Christmas Island in 1688.]]

The first European to sight the island was Richard Rowe of the Thomas in 1615.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=David J. |last2=Mcallan |first2=Ian A.W. |title=The birds of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: A review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274639116 |website=ResearchGate |publisher=Australian Field Ornithology |access-date=20 January 2017 |date=August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000221/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274639116_The_birds_of_Christmas_Island_Indian_Ocean_A_review |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live}} Captain William Mynors of the East India Company vessel Royal Mary named the island when he sailed past it on Christmas Day in 1643.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/culture-history/island-history.html |title=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts – Christmas Island History |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=26 April 2009 |date=8 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304001240/http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/culture-history/island-history.html |archive-date=4 March 2012 }} The island was included on English and Dutch navigation charts early in the 17th century, but it was not until 1666 that a map published by Dutch cartographer Pieter Goos included the island. Goos labelled the island "Mony" or "Moni",{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Christmas Island |volume=6 |pages=294–295}} the meaning of which is unclear.{{cite web |url=http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-nk1574-sd&rgn=0.5309855310%2C0.5141004862%2C0.6401856402%2C0.6437601297&cmd=zoomin&width=400&x=200&y=199 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805120217/http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-nk1574-sd&rgn=0.5309855310,0.5141004862,0.6401856402,0.6437601297&cmd=zoomin&width=400&x=200&y=199 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Digital Collections – Maps – Goos, Pieter, ca. 1616–1675. Paskaerte Zynde t'Oosterdeel Van Oost Indien (cartographic material) : met alle de Eylanden deer ontrendt geleegen van C. Comorin tot aen Iapan |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=26 April 2009 }}{{Cite web |title=The naming of Christmas Island |url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/the-naming-of-christmas-island |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Australia Post Collectables |language=en}}

English navigator William Dampier, aboard the privateer Charles Swan's ship Cygnet, made the earliest recorded visit to the sea around the island in March 1688. In writing his account, he found the island uninhabited.{{cite book |last=Carney |first= Gerard |title=The constitutional systems of the Australian states and territories |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-521-86305-8 |page=477 |quote=The uninhabited island was named on Christmas Day, 1643, by Captain William Mynors as he sailed past, leaving to William Dampier the honour of first landing ashore in 1688.}}{{cite book |title=A New Voyage Round the World |last=Dampier |first=William |author-link=William Dampier |year=1703 |publisher=James Knapton |location=The Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, London, England}} Dampier was trying to reach Cocos from New Holland. His ship was blown off course in an easterly direction, arriving at Christmas Island 28 days later. Dampier landed on the west coast, at "the Dales". Two of his crewmen became the first Europeans to set foot on Christmas Island.{{cite web |title=Where is Christmas Island? |url=http://www.hamiltonstampclub.com/christmas-islands.html |website=Hamilton Stamp Club |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820120024/http://www.hamiltonstampclub.com/christmas-islands.html |archive-date=20 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}

Captain Daniel Beeckman of the Eagle passed the island on 5 April 1714, chronicled in his 1718 book, A Voyage to and from the Island of Borneo, in the East-Indies.{{cite journal |last=Gibson-Hill |first=Carl Alexander |author-link=Carl Alexander Gibson-Hill |date=1949 |title=The Early History of Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean |url= |journal=Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=72–76 }}

The first attempt at exploring the island was made in 1857 by Captain Sidney Grenfell of the frigate {{HMS|Amethyst|1844|6}}. An expedition crew were sent ashore with instructions to reach the summit of the plateau, but they failed to find a route up the inland cliff and were forced to turn back. During the 1872–1876 Challenger expedition to Indonesia, naturalist John Murray carried out extensive surveys.{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.christmas.net.au/about/history.html |publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association |access-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208180546/http://www.christmas.net.au/about/history.html |archive-date=8 December 2014 }}

In 1886, Captain John Maclear of {{HMS|Flying Fish|1873|6}}, having discovered an anchorage in a bay that he named "Flying Fish Cove", landed a party and made a small collection of the flora and fauna. In the next year, Pelham Aldrich, on board {{HMS|Egeria|1873|6}}, visited the island for 10 days, accompanied by J. J. Lister, who gathered a larger biological and mineralogical collection. Among the rocks then obtained and submitted to Murray for examination were many of nearly pure phosphate of lime. This discovery led to annexation of the island by the British Crown on 6 June 1888.

File:Flying Fish Cove at Christmas Island.jpg, Christmas Island's capital]]

Soon afterwards, a small settlement was established in Flying Fish Cove by G. Clunies Ross, the owner of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands some {{convert|900|km}} to the southwest, to collect timber and supplies for the growing industry on Cocos. In 1897 the island was visited by Charles W. Andrews, who did extensive research on the natural history of the island, on behalf of the British Museum.{{cite journal |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |volume=II |title=A Monograph of Christmas Island |series=Indian Ocean: Physical Features and Geology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060407/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |journal=Geological Magazine |quote=With descriptions of the fauna and flora by numerous contributors. 8vo; xiii+337 pp., 22 plates, 1 map, text illustrated. |publisher=British Museum |place=London, UK |year=1900|issue=7 |pages=330–331 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800174461 }}

Phosphate mining began in 1899 using indentured workers from Singapore, British Malaya, and China. John Davis Murray, a mechanical engineer and recent graduate of Purdue University, was sent to supervise the operation on behalf of the Phosphate Mining and Shipping Company. Murray was known as the "King of Christmas Island" until 1910, when he married and settled in London.{{cite book |title=A Handy Book of Curious Information |url=https://archive.org/details/ahandybookcurio00walsgoog |first=William |last=Walsh |year=1913 |page=447 |publisher=Lippincott |location=London}}{{cite book |last1=Jupp |first1=James |title=The Australian People: An encyclopedia of the nation, its people, and their origins |year=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=9780521807890 |page=225 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgoFxfSTfYAC&pg=PA225 |access-date=2 January 2017 |chapter=Christmas Islanders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165431/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=wgoFxfSTfYAC&pg=PA225|archive-date=3 January 2017 |url-status=live}}

The island was administered jointly by the British Phosphate commissioners and district officers from the United Kingdom Colonial Office through the Straits Settlements, and later the Crown Colony of Singapore. Hunt (2011) provides a detailed history of Chinese indentured labour on the island during those years. In 1922, scientists unsuccessfully attempted to view a solar eclipse in late September from the island to test Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.{{cite news |first=John |last=Hunt |title=Eclipse on Christmas Island |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=5 September 2012}}

{{main|Battle of Christmas Island}}

From the outbreak of the South-East Asian theatre of World War II in December 1941, Christmas Island was a target for Japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits. A naval gun was installed under a British officer, four non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and 27 Indian soldiers.{{Cite web |last=Klemen |first=L. |date=1999–2000 |title=The Mystery of Christmas Island, March 1942 |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/christmas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121080434/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/christmas.html |archive-date=21 January 2016 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}} The first attack was carried out on 20 January 1942 by the {{Jsub|I-59}}, which torpedoed the Norwegian freighter Eidsvold.{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Klemen |date=1999–2000 |title=Allied Merchant Ship Losses in the Pacific and Southeast Asia |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/allied_losses.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514072436/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/allied_losses.html |archive-date=14 May 2012 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}} The vessel drifted and eventually sank off West White Beach. Most of the European and Asian staff and their families were evacuated to Perth.

In late February and early March 1942, there were two aerial bombing raids. Shelling from a Japanese naval group on 7 March led the district officer to hoist the white flag. But after the Japanese naval group sailed away, the British officer raised the Union Flag once more. During the night of 10–11 March, mutinous Indian troops, abetted by Sikh policemen, killed an officer and the four British NCOs in their quarters as they were sleeping. "Afterwards all Europeans on the island, including the district officer, who governed it, were lined up by the Indians and told they were going to be shot. But after a long discussion between the district officer and the leaders of the mutineers the executions were postponed and the Europeans were confined under armed guard in the district officer's house".

At dawn on 31 March 1942, a dozen Japanese bomber aircraft launched an attack, destroying the radio station. The same day, a Japanese fleet of nine vessels arrived, and the island was surrounded. About 850 men of the Japanese 21st and 24th Special Base Forces and 102nd Construction Unit came ashore at Flying Fish Cove and occupied the island. They rounded up the workforce, most of whom had fled to the jungle. Sabotaged equipment was repaired, and preparations were made to resume the mining and export of phosphate. Only 20 men from the 21st Special Base Force were left as a garrison.

Isolated acts of sabotage and the torpedoing of the cargo ship {{ship||Nissei Maru}} at the wharf on 17 November 1942{{Cite web |last=Cressman |first=Robert J. |title=Chapter IV: 1942 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820205155/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html |archive-date=20 August 2011 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Hyperwar |series=The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II}} meant that only small amounts of phosphate were exported to Japan during the occupation. In November 1943, over 60% of the island's population were evacuated to Surabaya prison camps, leaving a population of just under 500 Chinese and Malays and 15 Japanese to survive as best they could. In October 1945, {{HMS|Rother|K224|6}} re-occupied Christmas Island.Public Record Office, England War Office and Colonial Office Correspondence/Straits Settlements.{{Cite journal |last=J. Pettigrew |year=1962 |title=Christmas Island in World War II |journal=Australian Territories |volume=2 |issue=1}}Interviews conducted by J. G. Hunt with Island residents, 1973–1977.Correspondence J. G. Hunt with former Island residents, 1973–1979.

After the war, seven mutineers were traced and prosecuted by the Military Court in Singapore. In 1947, five of them were sentenced to death. However, following representations made by the newly independent government of India, their sentences were reduced to penal servitude for life.

The United Kingdom transferred sovereignty of Christmas Island to Australia at the latter's request, with a $20 million payment from the Australian government to Singapore as compensation for the loss of earnings from the phosphate revenue.{{cite AV media |department=Department of External Affairs in Australia |date=16 May 1957 |title=Report from the Australian High Commission in Singapore to the Department of External Affairs in Australia |place=Singapore |publisher=National Archives of Singapore |medium=microfilm |id=NAB 447}} The United Kingdom's Christmas Island Act was given royal assent on 14 May 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II, enabling Britain to transfer authority over Christmas Island from Singapore to Australia by an order-in-council.{{cite news |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580516.2.20.2.aspx |title=All set for transfer. |date=16 May 1958 |newspaper=The Straits Times |page=2 |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906024518/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580516.2.20.2.aspx |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live}} Australia's Christmas Island Act was passed in September 1958, and the island was officially placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 October 1958.{{cite report |url=http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=13849897 |author=Kerr, A. |year=2009 |title=A federation in these seas: An account of the acquisition by Australia of its external territories, with selected documents |publisher=Attorney General's Dept. (A.C.T. Barton) |page=329 |id=call no.: R 325.394 KER |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903213829/http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=13849897 |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=live}} This transfer did not see any process involving the local population, who could remain Singaporean citizens or obtain Australian citizenship. Links between Singapore and Christmas Island have occasionally reemerged in Singaporean politics and in Australia–Singapore relations.{{cite news |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/diego-garcia-unnerving-neighbours-raising-ghosts |title=Diego Garcia: Unnerving neighbours and raising ghosts |author=Ashton Robinson |work=The Interpreter |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=4 October 2024}}{{cite journal |author1=Ying-kit Chan |title=Who, or What, is Lost: Singapore's Impressions of Christmas Island, c. 1960–1990 |journal=MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities |volume=25 |pages=1–16 |year=2022 |url=http://www.manusya.journals.chula.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MNYA_025_01_innerwork-22-37.pdf |doi=10.1163/26659077-24030009}}

Under Commonwealth Cabinet Decision 1573 of 9 September 1958, D.E. Nickels was appointed the first official representative of the new territory.{{cite journal |url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1200578 |title=Mr. D.E. Nickels and Mrs. Nickels interviewed by Jan Adams in the Christmas Island life story oral history project|journal=Christmas Island Life Story Oral History Project |year=1986 |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317123411/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1200578 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=live|last1=Nickels |first1=D. E. |last2=Neale |first2=Margo |last3=Adams |first3=Jan }} In a media statement on 5 August 1960, the minister for territories, Paul Hasluck, said, among other things, that, "His extensive knowledge of the Malay language and the customs of the Asian people ... has proved invaluable in the inauguration of Australian administration ... During his two years on the island he had faced unavoidable difficulties ... and constantly sought to advance the island's interests."

John William Stokes succeeded Nickels and served from 1 October 1960, to 12 June 1966. On his departure, he was lauded by all sectors of the island community. In 1968, the official secretary was retitled an administrator and, since 1997, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands together are called the Australian Indian Ocean Territories and share a single administrator resident on Christmas Island.

The village of Silver City was built in the 1970s, with aluminium-clad houses that were supposed to be cyclone-proof.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep2/about4.htm |title=Island Life – Christmas Island – About |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=26 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208135014/http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep2/about4.htm |archive-date=8 February 2002 |url-status=dead }} The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, centred off the western shore of Sumatra in Indonesia, resulted in no reported casualties, but some swimmers were swept some {{convert|150|m|ft}} out to sea for a time before being swept back in.Main article: Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake

{{see also|Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre}}

File:Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre and the Lilac compound (5775019842).jpgFrom the late 1980s and early 1990s, boats carrying asylum seekers, mainly departing from Indonesia, began landing on the island. In 2001, Christmas Island was the site of the Tampa controversy, in which the Australian government stopped a Norwegian ship, MV Tampa, from disembarking 438 rescued asylum-seekers. The ensuing standoff and the associated political reactions in Australia were a major issue in the 2001 Australian federal election.{{cite web |last=Fowler |first=Connie |url=http://diemperdidi.info/nordicnotes/vol07/articles/thetampacrisis.html |title=Karsten Klepsuik, John Howard, and the Tampa Crisis: Good Luck or Good Management? |publisher=Celsius Centre for Scandinavian Studies (Flinders University) |work=Nordic Notes |issn=1442-5165 |volume=7 |year=2003 |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425120631/http://diemperdidi.info/nordicnotes/vol07/articles/thetampacrisis.html |archive-date=25 April 2012 }}

The Howard government operated the "Pacific Solution" from 2001 to 2007, excising Christmas Island from Australia's migration zone so that asylum seekers on the island could not apply for refugee status. Asylum seekers were relocated from Christmas Island to Manus Island and Nauru. In 2006, an immigration detention centre, containing approximately 800 beds, was constructed on the island for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Originally estimated to cost {{AUD|276}} million,{{cite report |author1=((Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia)) |title=Update Report: The Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre Project |date=September 2008 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |location=Canberra |isbn=978-0-642-79078-1 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Completed_Inquiries/pwc/christmasisland08/report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225122442/http://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/house/committee/pwc/christmasisland08/report/fullreport.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2014}} the final cost was over $400 million.{{cite web |title=Detention on Christmas Island |url=https://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/20442/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817061144/http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/20442/ |archive-date=17 August 2010 |publisher=Amnesty International |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=26 April 2009}} In 2007, the Rudd government decommissioned Manus Regional Processing Centre and Nauru detention centre; processing would then occur on Christmas Island itself.{{cite web |title=Savings for Labor's Better Priorities: Close Nauru and Manus Island detention centres |work=Public release of costing |url=http://archive.electioncostings.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0007/64519/ALP032_Public_Release_of_Costing_-_Savings_for_Labors_Better_Priorities_-_Close_Nauru_and_Manus_Island_detention_centres.rtf |publisher=electioncostings.gov.au |date=15 November 2007 |format=RTF download |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512212932/http://archive.electioncostings.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0007/64519/ALP032_Public_Release_of_Costing_-_Savings_for_Labors_Better_Priorities_-_Close_Nauru_and_Manus_Island_detention_centres.rtf |archive-date=12 May 2013 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05island.html |title=Australia puts its refugee problem on a remote island, behind razor wire |newspaper=The New York Times |date=5 November 2009 |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316040048/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05island.html |url-status=live }}

In December 2010, 48 asylum-seekers died just off the coast of the island in what became known as the Christmas Island boat disaster when their boat hit the rocks near Flying Fish Cove, and then smashed against nearby cliffs.{{cite news |title=Doomed asylum seekers' boat not being tracked by Customs: minister |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/they-were-screaming-help-help-help-20101215-18ya5.html |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=16 December 2010 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |first1=Kirsty |last1=Needham |first2=Andrew |last2=Stevenson |first3=Tom |last3=Allard}}{{cite news |title=Leaders pay tribute to asylum shipwreck victims |publisher=ABC |agency=ABC/AAP |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3134412.htm?section=justin |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232051/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3134412.htm?section=justin| archive-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=dead}} In the case Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth of Australia, the High Court of Australia ruled, in a 7–0 joint judgment, that asylum seekers detained on Christmas Island were entitled to the protections of the Migration Act. Accordingly, the Commonwealth was obliged to afford asylum seekers a minimum of procedural fairness when assessing their claims.{{cite web |url=http://apo.org.au/resource/offshore-processing-has-bar-been-lifted |title=Offshore processing: Has the bar been lifted? |last=Hume |first=David |date=25 November 2010 |access-date=17 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701092328/http://apo.org.au/resource/offshore-processing-has-bar-been-lifted |archive-date=1 July 2016 }} {{as of|2013|June|20}}, after the interception of four boats in six days, carrying 350 people, the Immigration Department stated that there were 2,960 "irregular maritime arrivals" being held in the island's five detention facilities, which exceeded not only the "regular operating capacity" of 1,094 people, but also the "contingency capacity" of 2,724.{{cite news |last=Rintoul |first=Stuart |title=Pre-election surge pushes island centres far beyond capacity |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pre-election-surge-pushes-island-centres-far-beyond-capacity/story-fn9hm1gu-1226666528991 |access-date=20 June 2013 |newspaper=The Australian |date=19 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620075259/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pre-election-surge-pushes-island-centres-far-beyond-capacity/story-fn9hm1gu-1226666528991 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=live}}

The Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre closed in September 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-10-years-the-notorious-christmas-island-detention-centre-has-quietly-closed-20181004-p507r0.html |title=After 10 years, the notorious Christmas Island detention centre has quietly closed |date=4 October 2018 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206001543/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-10-years-the-notorious-christmas-island-detention-centre-has-quietly-closed-20181004-p507r0.html |archive-date=6 December 2018 |url-status=live}} The Morrison government announced it would re-open the centre in February the following year, after Australia's parliament passed legislation giving sick asylum seekers easier access to mainland hospitals.{{cite news |title=Christmas Island: Australia to reopen controversial migrant detention camp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/christmas-island-detention-camp-reopened-australia-asylum-seekers-hospital-scott-morrison-a8776566.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213050014/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/christmas-island-detention-camp-reopened-australia-asylum-seekers-hospital-scott-morrison-a8776566.html |archive-date=13 February 2019 |url-status=live}} In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government opened parts of the Immigration Reception and Processing Centre to be used as a quarantine facility to accommodate Australian citizens who had been in Wuhan, the point of origin of the pandemic.{{cite web |url =https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/coronavirus-quarantine-binney-family-home-sunshine-coast/11975244 |title =Queensland family arrive home after coronavirus quarantine on Christmas Island |first1 =Tara |first2 =Sally |last1 =Cassidy |last2 =Rafferty |website =ABC News |date =18 February 2020 |publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date =28 February 2020 |archive-date =28 February 2020 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200228133111/https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/coronavirus-quarantine-binney-family-home-sunshine-coast/11975244 |url-status =live }} The evacuees arrived on 3 February.{{cite web |last1=Handley |first1=Erin |title=From Wuhan to Australia: A timeline of key events in the spread of the deadly coronavirus |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/coronavirus-timeline-from-wuhan-china-to-global-crisis/11903298 |website=ABC Australia News |date=29 January 2020 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329051830/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/coronavirus-timeline-from-wuhan-china-to-global-crisis/11903298 |url-status=live }} They left 14 days later to their homes on the mainland.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/australian-evacuees-from-wuhan-to-christmas-island-arrive-home/11971174|title=Emotional, exhausted coronavirus evacuees finally make it home after two weeks quarantined on 'notorious' island|date=17 February 2020|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628090611/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/australian-evacuees-from-wuhan-to-christmas-island-arrive-home/11971174|url-status=live}}

File:Map of Christmas Island 1976.jpg

The island is about {{convert|19|km|mi}} in greatest length and {{convert|14.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} in breadth. The total land area is {{convert|135|km2|sqmi}}, with {{convert|138.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} of coastline. Steep cliffs along much of the coast rise abruptly to a central plateau. Elevation ranges from sea level to {{convert|361|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} at Murray Hill. The island is mainly tropical rainforest, 63% of which is national parkland. The narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard.

Christmas Island lies {{convert|2600|km|mi}} northwest of Perth, Western Australia, {{convert|350|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Indonesia, {{convert|975|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-northeast of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and {{convert|2748|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Darwin, Northern Territory. Its closest point to the Australian mainland is {{convert|1550|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the town of Exmouth, Western Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/remote-offshore-territories |title=Remote Offshore Territories |date=15 May 2014 |publisher=Geoscience Australia |access-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070626/http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/remote-offshore-territories |archive-date=20 January 2018 |url-status=live}}

Only small parts of the shoreline are easily accessible. The island's perimeter is dominated by sharp cliff faces, making many of the island's beaches difficult to get to. Some of the easily accessible beaches include Flying Fish Cove (main beach), Lily Beach, Ethel Beach, and Isabel Beach, while the more difficult beaches to access include Greta Beach, Dolly Beach, Winifred Beach, Merrial Beach, and West White Beach, which all require a vehicle with four wheel drive and a difficult walk through dense rainforest.{{cite web |title=Christmas Island Beaches |url=https://www.christmas.net.au/experiences/beaches.html |website=Christmas Island – A Natural Wonder |publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association |access-date=2 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113054713/https://www.christmas.net.au/experiences/beaches.html |archive-date=13 January 2017 }}

File:Christmas Island (5775094028).jpg in golden twilight]]

The volcanic island is the flat summit of an underwater mountain more than {{convert|4500|m|ft}} high,{{cite web |date=16 August 2007 |title=Submission on Development Potential |url=http://www.nalwt.gov.au/files/no-37-thomas.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520042734/http://www.nalwt.gov.au/files/no-37-thomas.pdf |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=26 April 2009 |publisher=Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce |id=No. 37}} which rises from about {{convert|4200|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} below the sea and only about {{convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above it.{{cite web |date=23 April 2009 |title=Christmas island |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032949/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |access-date=26 April 2009 |work=World Factbook |publisher=CIA}} The mountain was originally a volcano, and some basalt is exposed in places such as The Dales and Dolly Beach, but most of the surface rock is limestone accumulated from coral growth. The karst terrain supports numerous anchialine caves.{{cite journal |author1=Iliffe, T. |author2=Humphreys, W. |year=2016 |title=Christmas Islands Hidden Secret |url=http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/christmasisland.html |url-status=live |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110101547/http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/christmasisland.html |archive-date=10 January 2016 |access-date=2 January 2016}} The summit of this mountain peak is formed by a succession of Tertiary limestones ranging in age from the Eocene or Oligocene up to recent reef deposits, with intercalations of volcanic rock in the older beds.

Reefs near the islands have healthy coral and are home to several rare species of marine life. The region, along with the Cocos (Keeling) Islands reefs, have been described as "Australia's Galapagos Islands".{{cite web |last=Birch |first=Laura |date=20 March 2022 |title=Indian Ocean marine parks off Christmas Island and Cocos Islands get the go-ahead |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-20/two-marine-parks-to-be-set-up-christmas-cocos-islands/100924776 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326182102/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-20/two-marine-parks-to-be-set-up-christmas-cocos-islands/100924776 |archive-date=26 March 2022 |access-date=28 March 2022 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In the 2021 budget the Australian Government committed A$39.1 million to create two new marine parks off Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The parks will cover up to {{convert|740,000|km2}} of Australian waters.{{cite web |date=11 May 2021 |title=Budget 2021–22 |url=https://budget.gov.au/2021-22/content/bp2/download/bp2_2021-22.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511093603/https://budget.gov.au/2021-22/content/bp2/download/bp2_2021-22.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2021 |access-date=20 September 2021 |publisher=Government of Australia}} After months of consultation with local people, both parks were approved in March 2022, with a total coverage of {{convert|744,000|km2}}. The park will help to protect spawning of bluefin tuna from illegal international fishers, but local people will be allowed to practise fishing sustainably inshore in order to source food.

Christmas Island lies near the southern edge of the equatorial region. It has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) and temperatures vary little throughout the year. The highest temperature is usually around {{convert|29|C|F}} in March and April, while the lowest temperature is {{convert|23|C|F}} and occurs in August. There is a dry season from July to October with only occasional showers. The wet season is between November and June and includes monsoons, with downpours of rain at random times of the day. Tropical cyclones also occur in the wet season, bringing very strong winds, heavy rain, wave action, and storm surge.

{{Weather box|location = Christmas Island Airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|temperature colour =

|Jan record high C = 31.4

|Feb record high C = 31.5

|Mar record high C = 31.5

|Apr record high C = 31.4

|May record high C = 30.7

|Jun record high C = 29.8

|Jul record high C = 29.3

|Aug record high C = 29.5

|Sep record high C = 30.9

|Oct record high C = 31.4

|Nov record high C = 31.8

|Dec record high C = 31.5

|year record high C =31.8

|Jan high C = 28.1

|Feb high C = 28.1

|Mar high C = 28.3

|Apr high C = 28.3

|May high C = 27.9

|Jun high C = 27.1

|Jul high C = 26.2

|Aug high C = 26.1

|Sep high C = 26.2

|Oct high C = 26.9

|Nov high C = 27.4

|Dec high C = 27.8

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 25.5

|Feb mean C = 25.6

|Mar mean C = 25.8

|Apr mean C = 26.0

|May mean C = 26.0

|Jun mean C = 25.3

|Jul mean C = 24.5

|Aug mean C = 24.2

|Sep mean C = 24.3

|Oct mean C = 24.9

|Nov mean C = 25.3

|Dec mean C = 25.3

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = 22.9

|Feb low C = 23.0

|Mar low C = 23.3

|Apr low C = 23.7

|May low C = 24.0

|Jun low C = 23.5

|Jul low C = 22.7

|Aug low C = 22.3

|Sep low C = 22.3

|Oct low C = 22.8

|Nov low C = 23.1

|Dec low C = 22.8

|year low C = 23.0

|Jan record low C = 18.8

|Feb record low C = 18.4

|Mar record low C = 18.6

|Apr record low C = 18.3

|May record low C = 19.3

|Jun record low C = 18.3

|Jul record low C = 16.2

|Aug record low C = 17.7

|Sep record low C = 16.7

|Oct record low C = 18.2

|Nov record low C = 18.0

|Dec record low C = 17.1

|year record low C =

|rain colour=green

|Jan rain mm = 280.6

|Feb rain mm = 353.7

|Mar rain mm = 321.5

|Apr rain mm = 244.2

|May rain mm = 180.1

|Jun rain mm = 171.7

|Jul rain mm = 97.2

|Aug rain mm = 38.5

|Sep rain mm = 45.4

|Oct rain mm = 61.9

|Nov rain mm = 150.0

|Dec rain mm = 216.5

|year rain mm = 2147.8

|unit rain days = 1 mm

|Jan rain days = 15.1

|Feb rain days = 16.9

|Mar rain days = 17.8

|Apr rain days = 15.0

|May rain days = 10.7

|Jun rain days = 10.2

|Jul rain days = 8.1

|Aug rain days = 6.1

|Sep rain days = 4.2

|Oct rain days = 4.2

|Nov rain days = 7.4

|Dec rain days = 11.8

|Jan afthumidity = 79

|Feb afthumidity = 83

|Mar afthumidity = 82

|Apr afthumidity = 83

|May afthumidity = 81

|Jun afthumidity = 81

|Jul afthumidity = 81

|Aug afthumidity = 79

|Sep afthumidity = 80

|Oct afthumidity = 79

|Nov afthumidity = 79

|Dec afthumidity = 78

|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology{{cite web

| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=200790&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal

| title = Monthly climate statistics

| publisher = Bureau of Meteorology

| accessdate = January 5, 2023

}}

}}

File:Christmas Island Population Pyramid-2011.png

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Ancestry of Christmas Island (2021)

|label1 = Chinese ancestry

|value1 = 22.2

|color1 = blue

|label2 = Australian ancestry

|value2 = 17

|color2 = Red

|label3 = Malay ancestry

|value3 = 16.1

|color3 = Green

|label4 = English ancestry

|value4 = 12.5

|color4 = DodgerBlue

|label5 = Other

|value5 = 43

|color5 = Black

}}

As of the 2021 Australian census, the population of Christmas Island is 1,692.{{cite web |publisher=Australian Government |department=Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development |title=2021 Census: Christmas Island |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA51710 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116101421/https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA51710 |archive-date=16 November 2022|access-date=27 November 2022|url-status=live}} 22.2% of the population had Chinese ancestry (up from 18.3% in 2001), 17.0% had generic Australian ancestry (11.7% in 2001), 16.1% had Malay ancestry (9.3% in 2001), 12.5% had English ancestry (8.9% in 2001), and 3.8% of the population was of Indonesian origin. As of 2021, most are people born in Christmas Island and many are of Chinese and Malay origin. 40.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was Malaysia at 18.6%. 29.3% of the population spoke English as their family language, while 18.4% spoke Malay, 13.9% spoke Mandarin Chinese, 3.7% Cantonese and 2.1% Southern Min (Minnan). Additionally, there are small local populations of Malaysian Indians and Indonesians.{{cite web |url=http://www.cidhs.cx/island-induction|publisher= Christmas Island District High School|title=Island induction |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803091021/http://www.cidhs.cx/island-induction |archive-date=3 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}{{cite book |title=Christmas Island: An Anthropological Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsGegGC3GmYC&pg=PA91 |via=Google Books |year=2008 |last=Dennis |first=Simone |publisher=Cambria Press |isbn=9781604975109 |pages=91ff |access-date=6 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231220306/https://books.google.com/books?id=gsGegGC3GmYC&pg=PA91 |archive-date=31 December 2015 |url-status=live}}

The 2016 Australian census recorded that the population of Christmas Island was 40.5% female and 59.5% male, while in 2011 the figures had been 29.3% female and 70.7% male. In contrast, the 2021 figures for the whole of Australia were 50.7% female, 49.3% male.{{cite web|title=2021 Census QuickStats: Australia|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/AUS|website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=27 November 2022|language=en|archive-date=25 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025011720/https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/AUS|url-status=live}} Since 1998 there has been no provision for childbirth on the island; expectant mothers travel to mainland Australia approximately one month before their expected due date to give birth.{{cite news |last1=Joyner |first1=Tom |title=Why there have been no childbirths on Christmas Island in 21 years |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/its-20-years-since-the-last-baby-was-born-on-christmas-island/10666124 |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=ABC News |date=22 January 2019 |language=en-AU |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610104101/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/its-20-years-since-the-last-baby-was-born-on-christmas-island/10666124 |url-status=live }}

Historically, the majority of Christmas Islanders were those of Chinese, Malay and Indian origins, the initial permanent settlers. Today, the plurality of residents are Chinese, with significant numbers of European Australians and Malays as well as a smaller Indian community, alongside more recent Filipino arrivals. Since the turn of the 21st century and right up to the present, Europeans have mainly confined themselves to The Settlement, where there is a small supermarket and several restaurants, the Malays live in their coastal kampong, and the Chinese reside in Poon Saan (Cantonese for "in the middle of the hill").

The main languages spoken at home on Christmas Island, according to respondents, are English (28%), Mandarin (17%), Malay (17%), with smaller numbers of speakers of Cantonese (4%) and Hokkien (2%). 27% did not specify a language.[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/#people-and-society Christmas Island], CIA Factbook, 2016 estimate.

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = Religion in Christmas Island (2021){{citation|title=2021 Census of Population and Housing – General Community Profile: Christmas Island (LGA51710)|date=2022 |author= ((Australian Bureau of Statistics))|url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/LGA51710|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|id=("General Community Profile" XLS file download: Table G14 – Religious Affiliation by Sex)}} [https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/90101/download/GCP_90101.xlsx Direct file download (1 MB).] Note that some statistical noise is added to the publicly released census data, in order to protect residents' privacy.

| label1 = Islam

| value1 = 22.1

| color1 = green

| label2 = Buddhism

| value2 = 15.2

| color2 = Yellow

| label3 = Catholicism

| value3 = 7.3

| color3 = Blue

| label4 = Protestantism

| value4 = 4.9

| color4 = Lightblue

| label5 = Other Christian

| value5 = 1.8

| color5 = Darkblue

| label6 = Other religion

| value6 = 1.0

| color6 = Red

| color7 = black

| value7 = 19.7

| label7 = Secular Beliefs and Other Spiritual Beliefs and No Religious Affiliation

| color8 = grey

| value8 = 26.7

| label8 = Religious affiliation not stated

}}

Religious practices differ by geography across the island and effectively correspond to the island's three primary settlements: the capital (known simply as The Settlement), the Cantonese village Poon Saan, and the Malay water village which is referred to often as the Kampong.

Major religious affiliation in Christmas Island (2021){{Cite web |title=SBS Australian Census Explorer |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/census-explorer-2021/index.html?placeType=sal&places=christmas-island&topic=cultural-diversity&lang=en |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.sbs.com.au}}

• 374 people or 22.1% are Muslim, up from 19.3% in 2016.
• 333 people or 19.7% are Irreligion, up from 15.3% in 2016
• 258 people or 15.2% are Buddhists, down from 18.2% in 2016
• 123 people or 7.3% are Catholic, down from 8.8% in 2016
• 35 people or 2.1% are Anglican, down from 3.6% in 2016

Due to the large numbers of English and Australians who make up the bulk of the island's capital, there is a strong Anglo-Celtic influence in The Settlement which has contributed to the strong presence of Catholicism. This has been further reinforced by recent Filipino arrivals.

File:Christmas Island (5774564505).jpg

In the village of Poon Saan, which functions like the island's Chinatown, Buddhism is commonplace. Traditional Cantonese folk practices also are represented in this area. Chinese temples and shrines include seven Buddhist temples (like Guan Yin Monastery (观音寺) at Gaze Road), ten Taoist temples (like Soon Tian Kong (顺天宫) in South Point and Grants Well Guan Di Temple) and shrines dedicated to Na Tuk Kong or Datuk Keramat on the island.{{cite web |date=19 September 2016 |title=Christmas Island Heritage – Temples and Shrines |url=https://christmasislandheritage.com/temples-and-shrines/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606161826/https://christmasislandheritage.com/temples-and-shrines/ |archive-date=6 June 2020 |access-date=7 June 2020}}

Malays who have settled on the island's edge in their shoreline kampong tend to follow Sunni Islam. The kampong has a mosque but it is in a state of decay and disrepair with rotting timbers and cracks.{{cite AHD|105402|Malay Kampong Group|fn=9/03/001/0008|accessdate=8 June 2024}}

Other smaller and less geographically concentrated groups include Anglicans who make up 3.6%, Uniting Church adherents who make up 1.2%, other Protestants who make up 1.7%, and other Christian groups with 3.3%. Other religious communities collectively constitute 0.6% of the island's population.

As an external territory of Australia, the two religious festivals which are official holidays are Christmas and Easter. Other non-official festivals include Spring Festival, Chap goh meh, Qingming Festival, Zhong Yuan Festival, and Hari Raya.{{cite book |last1=Athyal |first1=Jesudas M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-RfYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 |title=Religion in Southeast Asia: An Encyclopedia of Faiths and Cultures: An Encyclopedia of Faiths and Cultures |date=2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781610692502 |location=Santa Barbara, California |page=41 |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009185815/https://books.google.com/books?id=-RfYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |url-status=live}}

Christmas Island is a non-self-governing external territory of Australia {{as of|lc=yes|February 2020}}, part of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications{{Cite web|date=|title=Territories of Australia|url=https://regional.gov.au/territories/index.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111022256/https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/index.aspx|archive-date=11 January 2021|access-date=29 January 2021|website=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications|language=en-AU}} (from 29 November 2007 until 14 September 2010, administration was carried out by the Attorney-General's Department,{{cite web |department=First Assistant Secretary, Territories Division |place=Australia |title=Territories of Australia |url=http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |publisher=Attorney-General's Department |date=2 June 2008 |quote=The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General's Department administers Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Jervis Bay, and Norfolk Island as Territories. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131100911/http://ag.gov.au/territories |archive-date=31 January 2009}}{{cite web |department=First Assistant Secretary, Access to Justice Division |title=Territories of Australia – Administrative Arrangements Order: 14 September 2010|url=http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |publisher=Attorney-General's Department |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=28 August 2011 |quote=Under the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 14 September 2010, responsibility for services to Territories was transferred to the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814065328/http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |archive-date=14 August 2011}} and prior to this by the Department of Transport and Regional Services).{{cite web |department=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government |title=Territories of Australia: Machinery of Government Changes 2007 |url=http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories/index.aspx |access-date=7 February 2008 |quote=As part of the Machinery of Government Changes following the Federal Election on 29 November 2007, administrative responsibility for Territories has been transferred to the Attorney General's Department. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216154140/http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories/index.aspx |archive-date=16 December 2007}}

The legal system is under the authority of the Governor-General of Australia and Australian law. An administrator appointed by the governor-general represents the monarch and Australia and lives on the island. The territory falls under no formal state jurisdiction, but the Western Australian government provides many services as established by the Christmas Island Act.{{Cite web|title=Christmas Island, Legal framework and administration|url=https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/Christmas/governanceadministration.aspx|date=4 December 2019|website=Australian Government – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communication|access-date=21 May 2020|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603044334/https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/christmas/governanceadministration.aspx|url-status=live}}

The Australian government provides services through the Christmas Island Administration and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Under the federal government's Christmas Island Act 1958, Western Australian laws are applied to Christmas Island; non-application or partial application of such laws is at the discretion of the federal government.{{cite web |title=Christmas Island Act 1958 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1958A00041 |website=www.legislation.gov.au |access-date=29 April 2019 |department=Federal Register of Legislation |publisher=Australian Government |place=Australia |year=2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110074853/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1958A00041 |archive-date=10 January 2017 |url-status=live}} The act also gives Western Australian courts judicial power over Christmas Island. Christmas Island remains constitutionally distinct from Western Australia, however; the power of the state to legislate for the territory is delegated by the federal government. The kind of services typically provided by a state government elsewhere in Australia are provided by departments of the Western Australian government, and by contractors, with the costs met by the federal government. A unicameral Shire of Christmas Island with nine seats provides local government services and is elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. Elections are held every two years, with four or five of the members standing for election.{{Cite book|last=Hill, Richard.|title=National recovery plan for the Christmas Island frigatebird Fregata andrewsi|date=2004|publisher=Dept of the Environment and Heritage|isbn=0-642-55008-5|oclc=767835680}} {{As of|2024}} women held one of the nine seats in the Christmas Island Shire Council.{{cite web |title=Councillors |url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/councillors |publisher=Shire of Christmas Island |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619001735/https://www.shire.gov.cx/councillors |archive-date=2022-06-19 |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2024}} Its second president was Lillian Oh, from 1993 to 1995.

The most recent local election took place on 21 October 2023 alongside elections in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.{{Cite web |title=Council Elections |url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/council-elections |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Shire of Christmas I |language=en}} Christmas Island residents who are Australian citizens vote in Australian federal elections. Christmas Island residents are represented in the House of Representatives by the Division of Lingiari in the Northern Territory and in the Senate by Northern Territory senators.{{cite web |title=Profile of the electoral division of Lingiari (NT) |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425054016/http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm |archive-date=25 April 2016 |url-status=live}} At the 2019 federal election, the Labor Party received majorities from Christmas Island electors in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.{{cite web |url=http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8886.htm |title=Senate polling places on Christmas Island |department=Remote Mobile Team 20 |publisher=Australian Elections Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235129/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8886.htm |archive-date=19 January 2018 }}{{cite web |title=House of Representatives polling places on Christmas Island |url=https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-24310-83194.htm |department=Remote Mobile Team 20 |publisher=Australian Elections Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524091301/https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-24310-83194.htm |archive-date=24 May 2019}}

While there is no permanent Australian military presence on Christmas Island, the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force deploy {{sclass2|Cape|patrol boat|5}} and {{sclass|Armidale|patrol boat|0}} patrol boats to conduct surveillance and counter-migrant smuggling patrols in adjacent waters.{{cite web|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/operations/resolute |title=Operation Resolute |website=Australian Government – Defence |access-date=20 August 2023}} As of 2023, the Navy's Armidale-class boats are in the process of being replaced by larger {{sclass|Arafura|offshore patrol vessel|1}}s.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/politics/defence/navy-bids-farewell-to-veteran-patrol-boats-c-6629562 |title=Navy bids farewell to veteran patrol boats |website=7 News |access-date=20 August 2023|date=29 April 2022 |last=Bunch |first=Aaron}}{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/future/opv |title=Arafura Class OPV |website=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=20 August 2023}}

The airfield on Christmas Island has a 2100m long runway while that on Cocos (West Island, {{cvt|1000|km|disp=comma}} to the west) is {{cvt|2400|m}} in length. Both airfields have scheduled jet services, however, the airfield on Cocos is being upgraded by the Australian Defence Force for the purpose of acting as a forward operating base for Australian surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft in the region.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-16/adf-cocos-keeling-islands-384m-runway-cost-blowout-delay/101854906 |title=$384m cost blowout on ADF plan to upgrade airstrip, boost military presence on Cocos (Keeling) Islands |website=ABC |access-date=19 August 2023|date=15 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/australian-defences-forgotten-indian-ocean-territories/ |title=Australian Defence's Forgotten Indian Ocean Territories |website=Griffith Asia Insights |access-date=19 August 2023|date=29 June 2023 |last=Layton |first=Peter}}

The Australian Federal Police provides community policing services to Christmas Island and also carries out duties related to immigration enforcement, the processing of visiting aircraft and ships, and in coordinating emergency operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/territories/indian-ocean-territories/christmas-island/governance-administration |title=Christmas Island governance and administration |website=Australian Government – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and the Arts |access-date=19 August 2023}}

{{Quote box|align=right|width=30%|quote=There are some people who have never wanted the detention centre here. There are some of those, like me, who think it's wrong to imprison people who have done no crime – the whole policy and legal structure that's evolved to detain asylum seekers is repugnant to some people like me. We're a minority. Other people don't like Muslims.|source=Shire president Gordon Thomson speaking in a phone interview to The Spinoff.{{cite news |last1=Manhire |first1=Toby |title="Australia's Guantanamo Bay" – An Interview with the Christmas Island Mayor |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/25-12-2015/summer-reissue-australias-guantanamo-bay-an-interview-with-the-christmas-island-mayor |access-date=8 June 2024 |publisher=The Spinoff |date=25 December 2015}}|quoted = 1}}

Residents find the system of administration frustrating, with the island run by bureaucrats in the federal government, but subject to the laws of Western Australia and enforced by federal police. There is a feeling of resignation that any progress on local issues is hampered by the confusing governance system. A number of islanders support self-governance, including shire President Gordon Thompson, who also believes that a lack of news media to cover local affairs had contributed to political apathy among residents.{{cite news |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-07/apathy-and-disillusionment-on-christmas-island-ahead-of-election/10666454 |access-date=7 March 2019 |title=Apathy and disillusionment on Christmas Island as residents prepare for federal election |first=Tom |last=Joyner |date=7 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307053634/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-07/apathy-and-disillusionment-on-christmas-island-ahead-of-election/10666454 |archive-date=7 March 2019 |url-status=live}}

Image:Flag of Christmas Island.svg

In early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag; the winning design was adopted as the informal flag of the territory for over a decade, and in 2002 it was made the official flag of Christmas Island. At the centre of the flag is a yellow roundel showing an image of the island in green.

Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by Phosphate Resources Limited, a consortium that included many of the former mine workers as shareholders and is the largest contributor to the Christmas Island economy.{{Cite web|url=https://cirp.com.au/about-us/social-economic-impact/|title=Social & Economic Impact|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415053329/https://cirp.com.au/about-us/social-economic-impact/|url-status=live}}

With the support of the government, the $34 million Christmas Island Casino and Resort opened in 1993 but was closed in 1998. {{As of|2011}}, the resort has re-opened without the casino.{{Cite web|last=Cowie|first=Tom|date=5 October 2018|title=With chips down, Christmas Island wants to gamble on casino revival|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/with-chips-down-christmas-island-wants-to-gamble-on-casino-revival-20181005-p5081d.html|access-date=2 February 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=23 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223084523/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/with-chips-down-christmas-island-wants-to-gamble-on-casino-revival-20181005-p5081d.html|url-status=live}}

The Australian government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial spaceport on the island; however, this has not yet been constructed and appears that it will not proceed. The Howard government built a temporary immigration detention centre on the island in 2001 and planned to replace it with a larger, modern facility at North West Point until Howard's defeat in the 2007 elections.

Christmas Island cuisine can best be described as an eclectic combination of traditional Australian cuisine and Asian cuisine.

The main local organisation that promotes and supports the status and interests of female Christmas Islanders is the Christmas Island Women's Association which was established in 1989 and is a member organisation of the Associated Country Women of the World.{{cite web | url=http://www.ciwa.org.cx/CIWA.htm | title=Christmas Island Women's Association| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331101357/http://www.ciwa.org.cx/|archive-date=31 March 2015| access-date=7 April 2020}}{{cite journal |title=Society reports 2013–2016: The South Pacific: Christmas Island: The Christmas Island Women's Association (CIWA) |journal=Triennial Report of the Work of the ACWW |date=2016 |page=63 |url=https://www.acww.org.uk/docs/report_of_work_2016.pdf |publisher=Associated Country Women of the World |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407085631/https://www.acww.org.uk/docs/report_of_work_2016.pdf |url-status=live }}File:Christmas Island (5775114458).jpg

Christmas Island is well known for its biological diversity. There are many rare species of animals and plants on the island, making nature-walking a popular activity. Along with the diversity of species, many different types of caves exist, such as plateau caves, coastal caves, raised coastal caves and alcoves, sea caves, fissure caves, collapse caves, and basalt caves; most of these are near the sea and have been formed by the action of water. Altogether, there are approximately 30 caves on the island,{{cite journal |title=The History of Christmas Island and the Management of its Karst Features |last=Meek |first=Paul D. |journal=Helictite |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=31–36 |url=http://helictite.caves.org.au/pdf1/37.2.Meek.pdf |access-date=17 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315004023/http://helictite.caves.org.au/pdf1/37.2.Meek.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2018 |url-status=live}} with Lost Lake Cave, Daniel Roux Cave, and Full Frontal Cave being the most well-known. The many freshwater springs include Hosnies Spring Ramsar, which also has a mangrove stand.{{Cite web |title=Hosnies Spring Ramsar site Ecological Character Description |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/hosnies-spring-ramsar-site-ecd}}

The Dales is a rainforest in the western part of the island and consists of seven deep valleys, all of which were formed by spring streams. Hugh's Dale waterfall is part of this area and is a popular attraction. The annual breeding migration of the Christmas Island red crabs is a popular event.{{Cite web |title=Red crab migration |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/discover/highlights/red-crab-migration/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}}

Fishing is another common activity. There are many distinct species of fish in the oceans surrounding Christmas Island. Snorkelling and swimming in the ocean are two other activities that are extremely popular. Walking trails are also very popular, for there are many beautiful trails surrounded by extravagant flora and fauna. 63% of the island is covered by the Christmas Island National Park.{{Cite web |last=Griggs |first=Mary Beth |title=Christmas Island Is 63 Percent National Parkland...And Has More Crabs Than People |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/christmas-island-63-national-parklandand-has-more-crabs-people-180950442/ |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}

Cricket and rugby league are the two main organised sports on the island.

The Christmas Island Cricket Club was founded in 1959, and is now known as the Christmas Island Cricket and Sporting Club. Aussie Rules was popular from 1995 to 2014 and games were played between the visiting Australian Navy and the locals. With one international game representing Australia, which was played in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2006 against the Jakarta Bintangs. Auskick was also presented for the kids and they participated in 2 years as represented in AFL games of half time entertainment between 2006 and 2010. In 2019 the club celebrated its 60-year anniversary. The club entered its first representative team into the WACA Country Week in 2020, where they were runners up in the F-division.

Rugby league is growing in the island: the first game was played in 2016, and a local committee, with the support of NRL Western Australia, is willing to organise matches with nearby Cocos Islands and to create a rugby league competition in the Indian Ocean region.{{Cite journal |last=Hope |first=Ash |date=December 2018 |title=Christmas Time |journal=Rugby League World |issue=453 |pages=74–75 |issn=1466-0105}}

Unlike Norfolk Island, another external territory of Australia, Christmas Island does not participate in the Commonwealth Games or the Pacific Games, though Pacific Games participation has been discussed.{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Nick | title=West Papua, Hawaii and Christmas Island mooted as future Pacific Mini Games participants | website=insidethegames.biz | date=2017-12-13 | url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059089/west-papua-hawaii-and-christmas-island-mooted-as-future-pacific-mini-games-participants | access-date=2024-04-05}}

{{main|Wildlife of Christmas Island}}

{{See also|List of birds of Christmas Island|List of mammals of Christmas Island|List of reptiles of Christmas Island}}

File:Cococrb2.jpg]]

File:Christmas Island (5775069028).jpg]]

File:Red-footed booby.jpg]]

File:Anous stolidus nesting cropped.JPG]]

File:Brown booby.jpg]]

Christmas Island was uninhabited until the late 19th century, allowing many species to evolve without human interference. Two-thirds of the island has been declared a National Park, which is managed by the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage through Parks Australia. Christmas Island contains unique species, both of flora and fauna, some of which are threatened or have become extinct.

The dense rainforest has grown in the deep soils of the plateau and on the terraces. The forests are dominated by 25 tree species. Ferns, orchids and vines grow on the branches in the humid atmosphere beneath the canopy. The 135 plant species include at least 18 endemic species. The rainforest is in great condition despite the mining activities over the last 100 years. Areas that have been damaged by mining are now a part of an ongoing rehabilitation project.{{Cite book|title=The Essential Christmas Island Travel Guide|last=Tierney|first=Beth|publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association|year=2007}}

Christmas Island's endemic plants include the trees Arenga listeri, Pandanus elatus and Dendrocnide peltata var. murrayana; the shrubs Abutilon listeri, Colubrina pedunculata, Grewia insularis and Pandanus christmatensis; the vines Hoya aldrichii and Zehneria alba; the herbs Asystasia alba, Dicliptera maclearii and Peperomia rossii; the grass Ischaemum nativitatis; the fern Asplenium listeri; and the orchids Brachypeza archytas, Flickingeria nativitatis, Phreatia listeri and Zeuxine exilis.Christmas Island National Park: Flora.

Two species of native rats, the Maclear's and bulldog rats, have become extinct since the island was settled, while the Javan rusa deer has been introduced. The endemic Christmas Island shrew has not been seen since the mid-1980s and may be extinct, while the Christmas Island pipistrelle (a small bat) is presumed to be extinct.{{cite web |url=http://environment.gov.au/parks/index.html |title=Parks Australia |access-date=3 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912013529/http://environment.gov.au/parks/index.html |archive-date=12 September 2009 |url-status=live }}

The fruit bat (flying fox) species Pteropus natalis is only found on Christmas Island; its epithet natalis is a reference to that name. The species is probably the last native mammal, and an important pollinator and rainforest seed-disperser; the population is also in decline and under increasing pressure from land clearing and introduced pest species. The flying fox's low rate of reproduction (one pup each year) and high infant mortality rate makes it especially vulnerable, and its conservation status is critically endangered.{{cite web |title=Pteropus natalis – Christmas Island Flying-fox, Christmas Island Fruit-bat |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64801 |website=Species Profile and Threats Database |access-date=24 December 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707234104/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64801 |archive-date=7 July 2017 |url-status=live }} Flying foxes are an 'umbrella' species helping forests regenerate and other species survive in stressed environments.

The land crabs and seabirds are the most noticeable fauna on the island. Christmas Island has been identified by BirdLife International as both an Endemic Bird Area and an Important Bird Area because it supports five endemic species and five subspecies as well as over 1% the world populations of five other seabirds.{{cite web |publisher=BirdLife International |year=2011 |title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Christmas Island |website=www.birdlife.org |url=http://www.birdlife.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011128211428/http://www.birdlife.org/ |archive-date=28 November 2001 |access-date=23 December 2011}}

Twenty terrestrial and intertidal species of crab have been described here, of which thirteen are regarded as true land crabs, being dependent on the ocean only for larval development. Robber crabs, known elsewhere as coconut crabs, also exist in large numbers on the island. The annual red crab mass migration to the sea to spawn has been called one of the wonders of the natural world.{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/externalterr/christma.htm |title=Geoscience Australia on Christmas Island |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205053513/http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/externalterr/christma.htm |archive-date=5 February 2007 }} This takes place each year around November – after the start of the wet season and in synchronisation with the cycle of the moon. Once at the ocean, the mothers release the embryos where they can survive and grow until they are able to live on land.

The island is a focal point for seabirds of various species. Eight species or subspecies of seabirds nest on it. The most numerous is the red-footed booby, which nests in colonies, using trees on many parts of the shore terrace. The widespread brown booby nests on the ground near the edge of the seacliff and inland cliffs. Abbott's booby (listed as endangered) nests on tall emergent trees of the western, northern and southern plateau rainforest, the only remaining nesting habitat for this bird in the world.

Of the ten native land birds and shorebirds, seven are endemic species or subspecies. This includes the Christmas thrush and the Christmas imperial pigeon. Some 86 migrant bird species have been recorded as visitors to the island. The Christmas frigatebird has nesting areas on the northeastern shore terraces. The more widespread great frigatebirds nest in semi-deciduous trees on the shore terrace, with the greatest concentrations being in the North West and South Point areas. The common noddy and two species of bosun or tropicbirds also nest on the island, including the golden bosun (P. l. fulvus), a subspecies of the white-tailed tropicbird that is endemic to the island.{{Cite web|title=Phaethon lepturus fulvus — Christmas Island White-tailed Tropicbird, Golden Bosunbird|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=26021|url-status=live|website=Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708004303/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=26021 |archive-date=8 July 2017 }}

Six species of butterfly are known to occur on Christmas Island. These are the Christmas swallowtail (Papilio memnon), striped albatross (Appias olferna), Christmas emperor (Polyura andrewsi), king cerulean (Jamides bochus), lesser grass-blue (Zizina otis), and Papuan grass-yellow (Eurema blanda).{{cite book|last=Braby|first=Michael F.|title=The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia|url=https://archive.org/details/The_Complete_Field_Guide_to_Butterflies_of_Australia|year=2008|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|isbn=978-0-643-09027-9}}

Insect species include the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes), introduced to the island and since subjected to attempts to destroy the supercolonies that emerged with aerial spraying of the insecticide Fipronil.{{cite web |last1=Beeton |first1=Bob |last2=Burbidge |first2=Andrew |title=Final report: Christmas Island Expert Working Group |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/final-report-christmas-island-expert-working-group |website=National Parks |publisher=Department of the Environment and Energy |access-date=24 December 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224170540/http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/final-report-christmas-island-expert-working-group |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status=live }}

Radio broadcasts to Christmas Island from Australia include ABC Radio National, ABC Kimberley, Triple J and Hit WA (Formerly Red FM). All services are provided by satellite links from the mainland. Broadband internet became available to subscribers in urban areas in mid-2005 through the local internet service provider, CIIA (formerly dotCX). Because of its proximity to South East Asia, Christmas Island falls within many of the satellite footprints throughout the region. This results in ideal conditions for receiving various Asian broadcasts, which locals sometimes prefer to those emanating from Western Australia. Additionally, ionospheric conditions are conducive to terrestrial radio transmissions, from HF through VHF and sometimes into UHF. The island plays home to a small array of radio equipment that spans a good chunk of the usable spectrum. A variety of government-owned and operated antenna systems are employed on the island to take advantage of this.

Free-to-air digital television stations from Australia are broadcast in the same time zone as Perth and are broadcast from three separate locations:{{cite web|title=List of licensed broadcasting transmitters|url=http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Television/List-of-TV-broadcasters|publisher=ACMA|access-date=28 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211224613/http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Television/List-of-TV-broadcasters|archive-date=11 February 2014|url-status=dead}}

Cable television from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States commenced in January 2013.

Telephone services are provided by Telstra and are a part of the Australian network with the same prefix as Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory (08). In February 2005, a 900 MHz band GSM based 2G mobile telephone system replaced the old analogue network.{{cite web |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/territories/indian-ocean-territories/christmas-island/travel-information |title=Christmas Island travel information |website=Infrastructure and Regional Development |access-date=2022-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627170331/http://regional.gov.au/territories/Christmas/traveller_info.aspx |archive-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=live}} In 2022, 4,600 kilometre long 60 terabits per second high-capacity backhaul sole submarine cable connection between Australia and Christmas Island was implemented to replace the existing satellite based 2G mobile network with the 4GX technology with enhanced mobile and data services on Christmas Island.[https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1264087/vocus-and-telstra-team-up-on-christmas-island-mobile-project.html Vocus and Telstra team up on Christmas Island mobile project], ARN News, 11 May 2022.

The Shire of Christmas Island publishes a fortnightly newsletter, The Islander.{{Cite web|title=The Islander|url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/the-islander|access-date=16 September 2020|website=Shire of Christmas Island|language=en|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919173957/https://www.shire.gov.cx/the-islander|url-status=live}} There are no independent newspapers.

{{Main|Postage stamps and postal history of Christmas Island}}

File:Stamp Christmas Island 1958 2c.jpg, 1958]]

A postal agency was opened on the island in 1901 and sold stamps of the Strait Settlements.{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Breckon |title=Christmas Island's stamps and postal history: 50 years of Australian administration |magazine=Gibbons Stamp Monthly |date=October 2008 |pages=81–85}} After the Japanese occupation (1942–1945), postage stamps of the British Military Administration in Malaya were in use, then stamps of Singapore.{{cite book |title=Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue Australia |first=Stanley |last=Gibbons |edition=4th |year=2007 |pages=104–112}} In 1958, the island received its own postage stamps after being put under Australian custody. It had a large philatelic and postal independence, managed first by the Phosphate Commission (1958–1969) and then by the island's administration (1969–1993). This ended on 2 March 1993 when Australia Post became the island's postal operator; Christmas Island stamps may be used in Australia and Australian stamps may be used on the island.

Image:Red Crab Migration (25172962299).jpg

A container port exists at Flying Fish Cove with an alternative container-unloading point to the east of the island at Norris Point, intended for use during the December-to-March "swell season" of rough seas.{{Cite web|url=http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/articles/new-port-facility-christmas-island|title=New Port Facility on Christmas Island|website=scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au|access-date=4 March 2023|archive-date=7 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307123242/https://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/articles/new-port-facility-christmas-island|url-status=dead}} The now-defunct standard gauge {{convert|18|km|abbr=on}} Christmas Island Phosphate Co.'s Railway from Flying Fish Cove to the phosphate mine was constructed in 1914. It was closed in December 1987, when the Australian government closed the mine, and since has been recovered as scrap, leaving only earthworks in places.

Virgin Australia provides two weekly flights to Christmas Island from Perth in Western Australia, with the service connecting to Cocos Keeling Islands in both directions. A fortnightly freight flight provides fresh supplies to the island. Rental cars are available from the airport; however, no franchised companies are represented.{{cite news |last1=Parish |first1=Rebecca |title=Christmas Island's sole taxi operator gets red-tape run-around over WA Government legislation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-10/christmas-island-taxi-operator-gets-red-tape-run-around/11588172 |access-date=20 October 2019 |work=ABC News |date=10 October 2019 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021110208/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-10/christmas-island-taxi-operator-gets-red-tape-run-around/11588172 |url-status=live }} Road conditions across the island can vary, though inclement weather can cause the roads to become slippery or damaged.{{Cite web |title=Getting around |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/plan/getting-around/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}} Many of the tracks on the island are restricted to four-wheel-drive vehicles.{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/about/faq/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}}{{Cite web |last=Grossetti |first=Carla |date=13 February 2023 |title=The best walks and wildlife experiences on Christmas Island |url=https://www.australiantraveller.com/christmas-island/walks-and-wildlife-experiences-on-christmas-island/ |access-date=2 June 2024 |website=Australian Traveller}}

The island-operated crèche is in the Recreation Centre.{{cite web|url=http://shire.gov.cx/Recreation_Centre/crechemain.html |title=Recreation Centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915191041/http://shire.gov.cx///Recreation_Centre/crechemain.html |archive-date=15 September 2009 }} Christmas Island District High School, catering to students in grades P-12, is run by the Western Australian Education Department. There are no universities on Christmas Island. The island has one public library.{{cite web |url=http://shire.gov.cx/Community_Services/library.html |title=Public library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915190947/http://shire.gov.cx///Community_Services/library.html |archive-date=15 September 2009 }}

{{Portal|Australia|Geography|Islands|Oceania}}

• .cx, top-level domain country code for Christmas Island
• Index of Christmas Island–related articles
• Outline of Christmas Island

{{notelist|1}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/nature/flora.html |title=Flora: Endemic plants |access-date=25 December 2012 |website=Parks and Reserves: Christmas Island National Park |publisher=Australia Government |department=Dept. of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |date=21 November 2012}}
• {{CIA World Factbook}}
• {{Cite web |first=Klemen |last=L. |title=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |year=1999–2000 |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053035/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/index.html |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book |first1=Jan |last1=Adams |first2=Marg |last2=Neale |year=1993 |title=Christmas Island – The Early Years – 1888–1958 |publisher=Bruce Neale |isbn=0-646-14894-X}} 96 pages, including many b&w photographs.
• {{Cite book |first1=Gerald R. |last1=Allen |first2=Roger C. |last2=Steene |year=1998 |title=Fishes of Christmas Island |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association |isbn=0-9591210-1-3 |edition=1}} 197 pages including many photographs and plates.
• {{Cite book |first1=Gerald R. |last1=Allen |first2=Roger C. |last2=Steene |first3=Max |last3=Orchard |isbn=978-0-9591210-8-7 |title=Fishes of Christmas Island |edition=2 |year=2007 |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association}}
• {{Cite journal |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |title=A Description of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) |journal=Geographical Journal |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=17–35 |year=1899 |doi=10.2307/1774789 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449220 |jstor=1774789 |bibcode=1899GeogJ..13...17A |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230031243/https://zenodo.org/record/1449220 |url-status=live }}
• {{Cite journal |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |volume=II |title=A Monograph of Christmas Island |series=Indian Ocean: Physical Features and Geology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060407/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |journal=Geological Magazine |quote=With descriptions of the fauna and flora by numerous contributors. 8vo; xiii+337 pp., 22 plates, 1 map, text illustrated. |publisher=British Museum |place=London, UK |year=1900 |issue=7 |pages=330–331 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800174461 }}
• {{Cite book |first=Cyril |last=Ayris |year=1993 |title=Tai Ko Seng – Gordon Bennett of Christmas Island |publisher=Gordon Bennett Educational Foundation |isbn=0-646-15483-4}} 263 pages including photographs.
• {{Cite book |editor-last=Bosman |editor-first=D. |year=1993 |title=Christmas Island Police – 1958–1983 |publisher=D Bosman}} 112 pages including many photographs.
• {{Cite web |title=Christmas Island |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032949/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |url-status=live }}
• {{Cite book |year=1984 |title=Christmas Island, Indian Ocean – a Unique Island |publisher=Published by a committee of present and former employees of the phosphate mining company}} 60 pages including colour photographs.
• {{Cite book |first=H.S. |last=Gray |year=1981 |title=Christmas Island Naturally |publisher=H.S. Gray |isbn=0-9594105-0-3}} 133 pages including many colour photographs.
• {{Cite book |first1=John |last1=Hicks |first2=Holger |last2=Rumpff |first3=Hugh |last3= Yorkston |year=1984 |title=Christmas Crabs |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association |isbn=0-9591210-0-5}} 76 pages including colour photographs.
• {{Cite book |first=John |last=Hunt |year=2011 |title=Suffering Through Strength: The men who made Christmas Island |publisher=J. Hunt |isbn=9780646550114}}
• {{Cite book |publisher=National Library of Australia |title=The Indian Ocean: a select bibliography |year=1979 |isbn=0-642-99150-2}}
• {{Cite book |last1=McGrath |first1=Tony |title=In Tropical Skies: A History of Aviation to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands |date=2019 |publisher=Hesperian Press |location=Carlisle, WA |isbn=9780859057561}}
• {{Cite book |first=Margaret |last=Neale |year=1988 |title=We were the Christmas Islanders |publisher=Bruce Neale |isbn=0-7316-4158-2}} 207 pages including many b&w photographs.
• {{Cite book |first=Max |last=Orchard |year=2012 |title=Crabs of Christmas Island |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association |isbn=9780646576428}} 288 pages pictorial illustration of crabs.
• {{Cite book |first=Tony |last=Stokes |year=2012 |title=Whatever Will Be, I'll See: Growing Up in the 1940s, 50s and 60s in the Northern Territory, Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory |publisher=Anthony Stokes |isbn=9780646575643}} 238 pages.
• {{Cite journal |first=W.J.L. |last=Wharton |title=Account of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography |volume=10 |issue=10 |pages=613–624 |year=1888 |doi=10.2307/1800848 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449408 |jstor=1800848 |access-date=11 November 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111051852/https://zenodo.org/record/1449408 |url-status=live }}
• {{Cite journal|last=Dunkley|first=Graham|date=1 September 1983|title=Book Reviews : The Union of Christmas Island Workers By Les Waters. George Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1983, xi + 170 pp., $17.95 (hardback)|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/002218568302500317|journal=Journal of Industrial Relations|language=en|volume=25|issue=3|pages=389–390|doi=10.1177/002218568302500317|s2cid=153920231|issn=0022-1856}}

{{refend}}

• [https://www.christmasislandarchives.com/ Christmas Island Archives] – Featuring historical stories, articles and more.
• [https://christmasislandstories.org.au/ Christmas Island Stories] - Conserving and sharing the authentic stories of the people of Christmas Island.
• [https://www.thecollectingbug.com/civm/explore Christmas Island Virtual Museum] – Presenting historical artifacts, coins and ephemera.

{{Navboxes

|title = Australia-related links

|list =

{{Australia topic|title=History of Australia|prefix=History of|VI=Victoria}}

{{States and territories of Australia}}

}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Asia-related links

|list =

{{Geography of Asia}}

{{Islands of Singapore}}

{{Japanese occupations}}

{{Countries and territories of Southeast Asia}}

{{Asia topic|Climate of}}

}}{{navboxes

| title = Women in Oceania

| titlestyle = background:#FFCBDB

| list =

{{Oceania topic | Women in | title = Women's liberation movement in Oceania | state = expanded }}

{{Oceania topic | Feminism in }}

{{Oceania topic | Gender inequality in }}

}} {{Culture of Oceania}}

{{Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean}}

{{Subject bar|portal1=Geography|portal2=Islands|portal3=Asia|portal4=Australia|portal5=Singapore|commons=y |commons-search= Category:Christmas Island|voy=y |n=y |n-search= Category:Christmas Island}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Island countries of the Indian Ocean

Category:Islands of Australia

Category:Islands of Southeast Asia

Category:Important Bird Areas of Australian External Territories

Category:British rule in Singapore

.

Category:English-speaking countries and territories

Category:States and territories of Australia

Category:States and territories established in 1957

Category:1957 establishments in Australia

Category:Important Bird Areas of Indian Ocean islands

Category:Endemic Bird Areas

Category:Prison islands