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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

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The Japanese Ammunition Cave and Ruins

Driving along Gaze Road toward the casino site and just past the old hospital (now holiday accommodation) is a small ruin set into the steep hillside on the right. When driving by, it is so easy to miss as it blends into the undergrowth. This ruin is not very large and from the roadside you would never know what it is hides.

The ruin viewed from a distance. Midway down to the left you can make out a wall but it is almost totally camouflaged by its surroundings.
This cave would normally be in pitch blackness but the photo was taken with a flash.

As you enter through the doorway, with rusted door barely intact and into an interior room, an unexpected surprise awaits. Behind lies a sizeable dug out cave stretching back into the hillside.

Walking into this cave area the atmosphere is very still inside. The sound of the occasional car passing by on the road outside is muffled. It feels like time has stopped in there. It is thought this cave was used by the Japanese for ammunition storage during their occupation of Christmas Island from 1942-1945. Knowing of this possibility, thoughts of Japanese soldiers spring to mind. Perhaps they were working within this very area. In the darkness, with daylight barely penetrating and alone with such thoughts, the atmosphere is palpable.

In 2018 archaeologist Helena van der Riet visited Christmas Island and identified 19 Japanese World War II sites. There are likely more. Read her thesis (pages 175-185) to find out more about this particular site and why she believes that it may have been an ammunition storage site pre-dating World War II (pages 66-68).

I made a 3 minute video tour. It was my first filming experience and next time I know to film in landscape. But, if you want to get a feeling for this historic site then it is well worth to watch.

Come with me and explore this ruin and cave.
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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.
#christmasisland #ruin #ruins #history #historicalruins #colonialhouse #jungleruins #jungle #christmasislandarchives
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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