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Arthur’s steps – Who was Arthur?

I recently saw a place name on a 1916 map of Christmas Island that I hadn’t come across before; “Arthur’s steps”. I was immediately curious. 

Tai Jin (Buck) House area showing Arthur’s steps.
Part of a 1916 map from the UK Hydrographic Office.

I have a view of them too. Yes, they are still there!  I know fisherman on the Island, both past and present have walked, and still walk, these steps. 

Arthur’s steps descending down the cliff face. Flag post can be seen behind. There also appears to be an early concrete drainage chute (towards upper right of image).
James Startin Wills Arthur
James Startin Wills Arthur
Image courtesy of Ruth Roberts.

But who was Arthur? Is this a surname or a first name? As the steps are located close to Tai Jin (Buck) House and the government flag staff, it is likely they were named after a District Officer (but I stand corrected if this is not the case). Sure enough there are two possible contenders: 

The first was Arthur Walter Bailey who was the District Officer from 1904 to 1907. 

The second was James Startin Wills Arthur, Acting District Officer between 1911-12.

Therefore if the steps are indeed named after either of these two men then the steps date between 1904 and 1912. At the very least they were in existence in 1916. That, I believe, is quite exciting because this means they are an important little historical site on Christmas Island and hark back to its earliest colonial days.

Update: Arthur’s Steps was used by the District Officer to get from the DO’s house (which became the Administrator’s House when Christmas Island became an Australian Territory and has become Tai Jin House) to the area where the cantilevers are via launch. This was until the track/road to the house was built in the 1950s. Kevin Lourey was the engineer in charge of the road’s construction.

This update information was very kindly supplied by David Powell. From 1958 to 1975 he was employed as a surveyor on the Island. In 1975 he became the first Conservation Officer for BPC then the PMCI. From 1984 to 1999 he returned to CI as a consultant on behalf of Elders, the Union and Asia Pacific Space Station. This was due to his extensive knowledge of CI geology, geography, flora and fauna.

In earlier days the District Officer would have a rowing boat to take him to the beach at Flying Fish Cove settlement. I assume a ladder of some sort would descend to the water edge.

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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.

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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
Straits settlement 1 cent coins that I found parti Straits settlement 1 cent coins that I found partially buried. The verdigris colour of one of them caught my eye. How I came to be in that specific spot to find them is another whole story LOL. I donated them to the Island's Tai Jin House museum.
Left top to bottom:
Tails side “Straits Settlements 1936”.
Head side “George V King and Emperor of India” 
Right top to bottom:
Tails side “Commissioners of Currency Malaya 1939”
Head side “George VI King Emperor”
There was another 1 cent coin found along with these as well and was dated 1943. 
I am not sure if such a small denomination would have been used for gambling? However, it has been told that on the Island when Straits Settlement coins were no longer a viable currency they would be saved and then scattered/given as offerings to the good brothers during the Hungry Ghost month. I found these coins during that very month in an area that metal detectorists had been over previously. Perhaps the coins were revealed to me 🙂
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #christmasislandrelic #relic #relichunting #indianoceanislands #ghostmonth #straitssettlementscoins #straitssettlements #oldcoins #christmasislandarchives
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