• 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

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.

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.

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
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.