Cocos Islands
History

The islands are believed to have been discovered in 1609 by Captain William Keeling of the East India Company. They were uninhabited until 1825. By 1826 the first permanent settlement in the group had been established on the main atoll by an Englishman, Alexander Hare. A year later, John Clunies-Ross, a former employee of Hare, arrived with his own family and several employees recruited in Europe. Both Hare and Clunies-Ross claimed ownership of the islands, but on Hare's return to Java in l831 Clunies-Ross was left in sole possession. He brought in labourers and began to improve existing coconut stands.

Fearing that another country would take the islands, Clunies-Ross made several attempts to have them annexed by Britain and in 1857 they were declared formally to be part of the British Dominions. In 1878 responsibility for the supervision of the islands was transferred to the Government of Ceylon and eight years later, to the Government of the Straits Settlements.

In July 1886 Queen Victoria granted all land on the islands to Clunies-Ross' grandson, George, and his heirs, reserving the right to resume possession of land for public purposes

In 1903 the islands were incorporated into the Settlement of Singapore. but were attached again to Ceylon during the 1939-45 war while Singapore was under Japanese occupation.

In 1951 Australia bought land on West Island from the Clunies-Ross Estate for the construction of an airfield. Between 1952 and 1967 (when long-range aircraft came into service between Australia and Africa) Qantas and other international nights operated through Cocos.

By mutual agreement between the British and Australian Governments, confirmed by complementary legislation, the islands became an Australian territory in 1955.

As Cocos was regarded by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory, the Australian Government continued the British practice of reporting annually to the UN on developments in the Territory. In 1974, and again in 1980, at the invitation of the Australian Government, the UN sent visiting missions to Cocos. During this time the Australian Government implemented programs to promote the political, social, economic and educational advancement of the Cocos Malay people.

The Australian Government purchased the Clunies-Ross interests in the Territory in 1978, except for the family home and grounds. Proceedings have now commenced to acquire this remaining property.

On 6 April 1984 the Cocos community in an Act of Self Determination observed by a United Nations Mission, chose to integrate with Australia. The Australian Government has implemented a range of initiatives designed to raise the community's services and standard of living to mainland levels. Relevant Commonwealth legislation is being extended to the Territory, including health, social security and Federal electoral representation.