History, Christmas Island

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Christmas Island was named on Christmas Day 1643 by Captain William Mynors the Master of a passing ship. The earliest recorded visit was in March of 1688 by William Dampier, who found it uninhabited. After the next two centuries, when little interest was shown in the Island due to its rugged coastline, it was annexed by Britain in 1888 as part of British Dominion. Japan invaded and occupied the island from 1943 to 1945 - and after the end of the Second World War it became a dependency of Singapore. In 1957, the Australian government paid the government of Singapore 2.9 million pounds in compensation and on 1 October 1958, sovereignty was transferred to Australia. Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands together are called Australia's Indian Ocean Territories.

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General Tips about Christmas Island

» Information for Visiting Yachts
» Christmas Island Territory Week Community
» Useful information - Australian currency
» Useful information - TV/Radio
» Useful information - Telephones
» Useful information - Water
» Useful information - Electricity
» Useful information - Education
» Useful information - Postal services
» Useful information - Quarantine
» Useful information - Customs
» Useful information - Police
» Useful information - Health
» Useful information - TAXIS
» The Christmas Island Marathon
» Activities - Snorkelling
» Activities - Golf
» Places to see - Winifred Beach
» Places to see - West White Beach
» Places to see - LB4 Lookout
» Places to see - The Pink House
» Places to see - Territory Day Park
» Places to see - South Point
» Places to see - Blowholes
» Places to see - Martin Point
» Places to see - Hugh’s Waterfall
» Places to see - The Dales
» Places to see - Margaret Knoll
» Places to see - Dolly Beach
» Places to see - Greta Beach
» Places to see - Ethel Beach
» Places to see - Lily Beach
» Places to see - The Grotto
» Places to see - Tai Jin House
» Christmas Island Flight Services
» Fishing
» Local Dive Operators
» Scuba Diving Trips
» Scuba Diving - Did you know?
» Fauna
» Fauna
» Flora
» National Park
» Flying Fish Cove
» Culture, language and religion
» Flora and fauna
» History
» Geography
» Climate
» Christmas Island - National Park

   More travel tips about Christmas Island