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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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Recommended reading

The following titles are available from Christmas Island Tourist Association Gift Store cita@christmas.net.au

Suffering through strength: The men who made Christmas Island by John Hunt © 2011

If I could only buy one book about Christmas Island this would be the one. It is a fascinating 279 page account of the human story spanning the first 50 years of the island’s mining operations. And what a story! As John says in his preface “The book is a narrative of courage, endurance and willpower, a triumph of the human spirit in an isolated island. Mistreatment, death, murder, prostitution and betrayal all played their part, especially in the earliest days before World War 1. The themes of exploitation, human weakness, culture and class kept recurring throughout the story.”

This story has been brought to life beautifully by John’s meticulous research over a 40 year period and his talent for being able to disseminate his findings into an interesting and informative read leaving the reader with that feeling of wanting to know even more. The book, on nice glossy type paper has good quality historic photos, hand drawn maps and additional stories scattered throughout titled “Legends and Mysteries”. All the content is a tour de force and I can highly recommend it.

Golden Leaves: An introduction to the Chinese Cemeteries of Christmas Island by Hélène Bartleson © 2008

How I wished I had read this book before exploring the Settlement Chinese Cemetery – looking at old markers and inscriptions but not knowing what they mean; seeing old plantings and realising that they have been placed there for a reason but not knowing why. This book is the key to understanding the rich cultural significance of what you see when visiting the fascinating and historically important Chinese cemeteries at Settlement and Phosphate Hill.

Hélène explains about the headstones and their inscriptions, marker-altars, significant graves, symbolism, ceremonies and celebrations. She also gives an overview of the first indentured Chinese labourers who arrived on the Island from 1899. Many hundreds died from beriberi, accidents, illness and suicide; their final resting places are in these cemeteries. All of this in a lovely 80 page soft cover book. There are many high quality photographs both in colour and black and white, plus explanatory charts. I highly recommend this book.

We were the Christmas Islanders 1906 – 1980 by Marg Neale © 1988

A wonderful collection of oral histories as told by the people, Chinese, European and Malay, who called Christmas Island home. There are 27 stories in three category groups covering the: “Early Days” 1900-1945, “Middle Years” 1940s – 1960s and “Latter Days” 1970s. The stories cover the experiences, observations, trials and tribulations and more of those Islanders. Each provides a unique perspective that was largely determined by which ethnic group one belonged to. If you have an interest in Christmas Island history and enjoy reading about others’ life experiences then this 212 page book with black and white photos (and some coloured ones too) is a most enjoyable read.

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

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