• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Christmas Island Archives Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) - Ruins, relics, stories and other interesting things

Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) - Ruins, relics, stories and other interesting things

  • Home
  • Latest updates
  • Ruins, relics, old and lost sites
  • Historic newspaper articles
  • Stories, articles and videos
  • Documents
  • World War 2
  • Recommended reading
  • Early maps & views
  • Website image gallery
  • About and Contact

Faded, lost and forgotten – a fascinating history

It has been said and written that the Australian territory of Christmas Island is the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. It’s natural beauty, dramatic coast line and amazing wildlife cannot be overstated. To be able to sit under a waterfall washing away your life’s cares in the middle of a stunning rain forest landscape is simply magical. It is just one of many great nature based experiences to be had on this very special and unique island.

However, there is another aspect to Christmas Island that isn’t immediately evident because it has been largely ignored and yet it is half the story! And that is its historic human experience; the stories of the lives, the trials and tribulations of those earlier men and women who lived and laboured on this spec in the Indian ocean.

So many old stories and sites of this unique Isle are faded, lost and forgotten. The information about some of these can be found in books, documents, archives and in stories and memories from the islanders and ex-islanders themselves. But, it is all so scattered and can take quite an effort to unearth it all.

And, it’s an unfortunate fact that, for whatever reason, historic buildings and sites have not been preserved and valued as they should have been. The island hides well its early and also World War II Japanese occupational history; in some cases, quite literally. The jungle and tropical climate eventually reclaims all that is forgotten and neglected; the old Christmas Island Club, former Mandors’ Quarters and Japanese sites are cases in point. And yet, despite this, there are still gems to be discovered and so many places to explore.

To be able to stand on a spot and know what and who was there before, of events that have passed, enables one to feel the true essence and spirit of place.

Fran Yeoh

I don’t want to reinvent the wheel; there are some excellent books that have already been written about Christmas Island. What I do want to do however, is bring together and highlight in the one place, all those scattered miscellaneous gems of really interesting information, early photos and stories that may otherwise have remained buried in an archive, a newspaper article, book or memory. And, for everyone to know that apart from the crabs and natural attributes there is another whole aspect of Christmas Island that should be remembered, told and preserved.

You may leave the island, but it will never leave you.

Fran Yeoh

This is an ongoing project, so whether you are planning to visit Christmas Island, already live there or just want to know more, I hope the information on this website will give an extra insight and appreciation of this unique place.

Fran Yeoh
Author of “Christmas Island Archives” and “The Roebourne Bank Murders” websites.

Part of the European Settlement, Flying Fish Cove" c1909
“Part of the European Settlement, Flying Fish Cove” c1909
© William MacDougall. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School thesis and dissertation collection
Share this page.

Primary Sidebar

Christmas Island Archives was selected for preservation by the State Library of Western Australia. It is now listed in perpetuity on PANDORA, Australia’s website archive established by the National Library of Australia.

Grant acknowledgement

Follow on Instagram

Follow Christmas Island Archives on Instagram for cool images and videos of ruins, relics, temples and more.

I came across this interesting little site in the I came across this interesting little site in the corner of the post office padang on Christmas Island. I have been told that this was the base of a short wave radio mast. It was a substantial tower about 30 metres high and connected to the radio building where the post office now stands. I was also told by another source that this was part of a weather station when the radio house was standing. Either way the steps are a bit of a mystery as the structure is, from memory, just over a metre wide.
#christmasisland #history #oldstructure #christmasislandarchives #ruin
An ammunition cave used by the Japanese during the An ammunition cave used by the Japanese during their occupation of Christmas Island in WW2. The circular opening in the wall is where I believe a ventilation pipe was inserted. Its purpose was to keep a stable temperature and extract noxious fumes. Its use as an ammunition cave may have predated WW2. To find out more about this cave read Helena van der Riet's excellent thesis "The Archaeology of the Japanese World War II Occupation of Christmas Island". It can be found on my website (see link in my bio) under the "Documents" section. 
#christmasisland #cave #ammunition #ww2 #ww2history #worldwar2 #worldwar2history #japaneseoccupation #ww2japanese #christmasislandarchives
I love Victor Purcell's observations of human beha I love Victor Purcell's observations of human behaviour on Christmas Island in 1926. The European community caused him the most angst.
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #history #islandlife #colonial #straitssettlements #christmasislandarchives
An old water tank near South Point located along t An old water tank near South Point located along the old railway track. I understand that a couple of years ago it was totally overgrown by the jungle and was invisible until it was cleared.
#christmasisland #ruin #relic #industrialrelic #watertank #colonial #christmasislandarchives
Back in 2020 as we were leaving the Old European C Back in 2020 as we were leaving the Old European Cemetery my sis-in-law @mily_barrett spotted this now 72 year old engraving in the concrete path. A nice little reminder from a long gone workman that he was once doing a job there.
"1.7.1951
Pipe Repar" ... 
The last seen letter is partially obscured. The word repair has likely been misspelt?
#christmasisland #history #christmasislandhistory #relic #cemetery #path #oldpath #christmasislandarchives
A sad end for Norman Howard. His gravesite lies in A sad end for Norman Howard. His gravesite lies in the Old European Cemetery on Christmas Island. His story and the mystery loss of his headstone lead to a surprising misidentification of his gravesite. Read about it now on my website. See bio for link. Look under “latest updates” for “Norman Howard - turning in his grave”.
"In memory of Norman Howard
European Overseer
Aged 32
Died 6.3.24"
#christmasisland #straitssettlements #christmasislandhistory #cemetery #headstone #gravesite #grave #colonialhistory #christmasislandarchives
Load More Follow on Instagram

Follow on Facebook

Follow Christmas Island Archives on Facebook for website updates and other news.

Authentic stories reflecting the experiences of past and present Christmas Islanders.

Copyright © 2023 · Fran Yeoh. All rights reserved.