This week, Christmas Island celebrates 50 years since becoming a non-self governing Australian Territory.
Date: 03 October 2008
This week, Christmas Island celebrates 50 years since becoming a non-self governing Australian Territory.
Christmas Island was named by Captain William Mynors, of the East India Shipping Company vessel the “Royal Mary” when he arrived on Christmas Day, December 25th, 1643. He was unable to land, however, and it was not until 1688, when the English buccaneering ship “Cygnet” arrived under Captain Swan, that the first recorded landing took place.
The island was annexed and settlement began by the United Kingdom in 1888 after phosphate was discovered in what is now called Flying Fish Cove. At Australia’s request, the United Kingdom transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958, becoming an Australian Territory on 1 October that year.
The population of Christmas Island is approximately 1,400 (July 2007 est.), with Mandarin, Bahasa Malay and English being the predominant languages spoken.
Christmas Island is particularly famous for its annual Red Crab migration, where 100 million Red Crabs migrate to the sea to spawn. This occurs in November, at the start of the wet season and in synch with the cycle of the moon. This migration has been labelled one of the natural wonders of the world.
The Island is considered to have high conservation value due to the number of endemic bird, crab and plant species. Approximately 63% of the Island’s 135 square kilometres is gazetted National Park.
“I would like to wish the people of Christmas Island a very happy 50th Birthday. I am excited to have the opportunity to enjoy the Big Five-Oh Celebrations over the weekend” Senator Crossin said.
The celebrations include a parade, a concert and a feast, at Flying Fish Cove.