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

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Historic Clunies-Ross rock carving revealed

The jungle and scrub hides much on Christmas Island. But during the dry season as the lush vegetation dies back tracks become visible again and structures may be revealed. It was during the 1987 dry season that Ian Foster (author of “A teacup in a storm” article) found himself exploring an area near the downhill conveyor.

Ian said “It was a very dry season that year and many trees on the steep slopes were virtually leafless. It was unusually easy to get into scrubland that was normally almost impossible.”

These conditions proved ideal for a historic footnote to be revealed. Carved into the rock face in upper case letters, six years before mining even commenced on the Island, was the following. Explanatory notes are in [  ] brackets:

ROAD TO PHOSPHATE HILL
MADE BY C C-ROSS [Charles 1845 -1910]
A F C- … [Andrew Ferguson 1855 -1915]
J S C- … [John Sydney 1868 – 1944]
AND 6 COCOS BOYS
17 SEPT 1894

Clunies Ross Rock Carving 1896
Photo used with kind permission. © Ian Foster

Ian’s black camera case can be seen in the lower part of the photo to provide a scale of measure. 

As a point of interest two parts of the Clunies-Ross 1894 track to Phosphate Hill are shown on a 1916 map. In his book “Suffering through strength” John Hunt says that the path was called Ngau Che Lo (Bullock-Cart Road). After the settlement on Phosphate Hill was established in 1905 company European staff and white visitors were given ponies or horses to ride up this path.

Part of a map showing Clunies Ross path to Phosphate Hill
Part of a 1916 map from the UK Hydrographic Office

The Clunies-Ross carving is a very significant historical marker and probably the earliest known written mark left on Christmas Island. This archaeological site is quite amazing! 

 

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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.

Grant acknowledgement

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The base ruins of the Assistant Manager/Chief Engi The base ruins of the Assistant Manager/Chief Engineers house. It was once a substantial colonial home from the 1930s with beautiful gardens. It was still being occupied in June 1965 but by the 1970s it had been abandoned and neglected and fell into decay. The decision to demolish it was taken by a meeting of the CI Club members in 1977.
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A sound from the past Footsteps upon the stair I A sound from the past 
Footsteps upon the stair
I turned around quickly
But no-one was there.
#christmasislandarchives #ruins #steps #ghost #christmasisland
When exploring this old ruin at South Point on Chr When exploring this old ruin at South Point on Christmas Island with my sister-in-law, she noticed a bracket type fixture. It is located in the back corner where the white arrow indicates in the main picture. Were these meant for chains and shackles?
#christmasisland #history #shackles #oldstructure #christmasislandarchives #ruin #southpointchristmasisland
A photo of probably the first Chinese temple to be A photo of probably the first Chinese temple to be built on Christmas Island c1902-1904. This site is in Settlement at the Temple Court area on Gaze Road. The original temple, shown here in black and white, appears to have been replaced in later years by the current one (scroll across) still standing on the original site. It is today known as the Tai Pak Kong temple - Tua Pek Kong (Chinese: 大伯公; Tâi-lô: Tuā-peh-kong).
#christmasisland #taoisttemple #chinesetemple #christmasislandarchives #culture #taoist
“In the universe, there are things that are know “In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.” ~ William Blake
I think the old wooden banners around the door may have been rescued when a nearby temple was being renovated many years ago? I'm not sure about this, so if anyone can tell me their origin that would be great.
#christmasisland #chinesedoor #reddoor #christmasislandarchives
Just one of many fascinating stories that were exh Just one of many fascinating stories that were exhibited at my Faded Lost Forgotten exhibition held on Christmas Island during Territory Week in 2021 and 2022.
#christmasisland #christmasislandhistory #cemetery #headstone #gravesite #grave #arab #forgottenplaces #lostcemetery #kubur #christmasislandarchives
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