Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 

1857 - 1903, Feb 1942 - Sep 1945, 1946 - 1948	15 Jul 1903 - 1925	1925 - 1942,  Sep 1945 - 1 Apr 1946
13 Sep 1948 - 23 Nov 1955	Adopted 23 Nov 1955	Adopted 6 Apr 2004

Map of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands  Hear National Anthem   "Advance Australia Fair"   Text of National Anthem  Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act (23 Nov 1955) Capital: West Island (Home Island 1831-1978; U.K. Administrators - Hone Island 1944-1953, West Island 1953-1978) Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD); Cocos (Keeling) Islands Rupee (1887-1966) National Holiday: 26 Jan (1788) Australia Day ------------------------------------ Local Holiday: 6 Apr (1984) Act of Self-Determination Day Population: 544 (2016) 1,626 (1946) GDP: $5.42 million (2005) Exports: $4.36 million (2016) Imports: $8.54 million (2016) Ethnic groups: Malay 16.6%, Australian 15.5%, Indonesian 14.3%, English 9.3%, Javanese 5.6% (2016) note: data represent self-identified ancestry, over a third of respondents reported two ancestries or did not reply Total Police Force: 4 (2012) Defense is  the Responsibility of Australia Merchant marine: None (2018) Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016) International Organizations/Treaties: None Cocos Islands Chronology 1609                       Cocos (presumably) sighted (and named Cocos                              Islands) by English Capt. William Keeling                              (b. 1578? - d. 1620). 1825                       French Commander Henry Auguste Le Cour (b. 1773 -                              d. 1857) is shipwrecked on Direction Island.  6-10 Dec 1825             British merchant John Clunies Ross visits Cocos                              Islands in preparation for future settlement. May 1826                   Privately settled by U.K. merchant Alexander Hare.   4 Nov 1827                Separate settlement established on South Island by                              U.K. sailor/merchant John Clunies-Ross. Mar 1831                   Hare leaves; Clunies-Ross takes possession of all                              islands; Cocos Islands subsequently becoming                         a feudal "fiefdom" of the Clunies-Ross family                         (Cocos Islands, also called Keeling Islands,                         from c. 1880 also Cocos-Keeling Islands). 31 Mar 1857                Cocos Islands annexed for U.K. by Capt. Stephen                              Grenville Fremantle (b. 1810 - d. 1860) aboard                              HMS Juno. 22 Nov 1878 - 18 Mar 1886  Governor of Ceylon appointed governor of Cocos                              Islands and vested with powers and authorities. 18 Mar 1886                Governor of Straits Settlements (see Singapore) is                              appointed Governor of Cocos Islands and vested                              with powers and authorized to transfer/annex                              islands to Straits Settlements.  7 Jul 1886                All the land on Cocos Islands above the high-water                              mark granted by indenture, under U.K. sovereignty                              and with certain reservations, "in perpetuity"                              to the Clunies-Ross family. 15 Jul 1903                Cocos Islands annexed to Straits Settlements and                              administratively attached to Singapore.  9 Nov 1914                German warship Emden lands a raiding party on                               Direction Island to destroy wireless equipment.                              HMAS Sydney severely damages the Emden in battle                              and the Emden is beached.  Jan 1942 - 30 Mar 1946     Subordinated to Ceylon.  8 May 1942                Failed mutiny by soldiers of Ceylon Defense force. 20 Jul 1945 -  1 Apr 1946  British military administration.  1 Apr 1946                Straits Settlements disbanded, annexed to Singapore 23 Nov 1955                Cocos Islands separated from Singapore and                              transferred to Australia (Territory of Cocos                              [Keeling] Islands).  1 Sep 1978                Australia acquires the Clunies-Ross interests in                              the Cocos Islands (excluding the family home                              [which was sold in 1993]) for $6.25 million. 25 Jul 1979                Local government organized, Interim Advisory                              Council transformed into Cocos (Keeling) Islands                              Council.  6 Apr 1984                Cocos Islanders vote (87.7%) for integration with                              Australia, no alternatives being offered over                              independence or free-association. 25 Jun 1984                Cocos Islanders are granted full rights and                              responsibilities of Australian citizens.  1 Jul 1992                Laws in force in Cocos Islands repealed (unless                              specified), Western Australia law made applicable                              instead and local government re-organized as                              Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire (from 17 Jul 1996,                              part of Northern Territory's federal electoral                              division of Ligiari). 12 Dec 1995                Pulu Keeling National Park established encompassing                              North Keeling Island and the surrounding sea to                              1.5 KM (0.93 Miles) from shore. 11 Dec 2010                Western Australia law made applicable to Cocos                              Islands, but in reference to responsible                              Australian Minister, not Western Australia                              Minister/Government.

Settler
May 1826 - Mar 1831        Alexander Hare (on main island)    (b. 1775 - d. 1834)
Rulers ("Kings"; from 1857, Governors)¹
 4 Nov 1827 - 26 May 1854  John Clunies-Ross                  (b. 1786 - d. 1854)
                             (on South Island only to Mar 1831)
26 May 1854 -  8 Jun 1871  John George Clunies-Ross           (b. 1823 - d. 1871)
 8 Jun 1871 -  7 Jul 1910  George Clunies-Ross                (b. 1842 - d. 1910)
 7 Jul 1910 - 14 Aug 1944  John Sidney Clunies-Ross           (b. 1868 - d. 1944)
14 Aug 1944 - 31 Aug 1978  John Cecil Clunies-Ross            (b. 1928 - d. 2021)
                             (in U.K. to 6 Jul 1946)
14 Aug 1944 - 28 Nov 1949  Rose Nash Clunies-Ross (f)-Trustee (b. 1902 - d. 1991)
Governors
22 Nov 1878 - 18 Mar 1886  the governors of Ceylon
18 Mar 1886 - 15 Feb 1942  the governors the Straits 
                           Settlements 
15 Feb 1942 -  1 Apr 1946  the governors of Ceylon
 1 Apr 1946 - 23 Nov 1955  the governors of Singapore
British Military Administrators (on Home Island)
(27 Jul 1945 - 1 Apr 1946, subordinated to the Fortress commander)
 1 Sep 1944 - 18 Feb 1945  John Edward Bendelow Jessamine     (b. 1898 - d. 1956)
18 Feb 1945 -  3 Apr 1945  G.M.L. Williams
 3 Apr 1945 - 28 Jul 1945  John Allen Harvey                  (b. 1900 - d. 1991)
28 Jul 1945 - 27 Apr 1946  E.M. Jones-Lloyd
Administrators (on Home Island 1946-1953, then West Island)
27 Apr 1946 - 1946         David Alford Somerville            (b. 1908 - d. 1974)
1946 - 1947                T.E. Smith 
1947 - 1948                Patrick Sydney Bolshaw             (b. 1919 - d. 2008)
1948 - 1950                Eric Statham de Banzie             (b. 1922 - d. 2000)
Sep 1950 - Dec 1951        Roderick MacLean                   (b. 1921 - d. 2008)
Dec 1951 - c.1953          F.I. Bentley
Official Representatives
23 Nov 1955 -  7 Nov 1958  Harold James Hull                  (b. 1911 - d. bf.2007)
14 Dec 1957 - 13 Mar 1958  Cyril Hewitt Cox (acting for Hull) (b. 1899 - d. 1994)
 8 Nov 1958 - 30 Sep 1960  John William Stokes                (b. 1910 - d. 1995)
28 Jul 1960 - 18 Apr 1966  Charles Ivens Buffett              (b. 1914 - d. 1995)
                             (acting [for Stokes to 30 Sep 1960] to 25 Feb 1964)
10 May 1964 - 1964         John Alexander Gibson
                             (acting for Buffett)  
19 Apr 1966 -  6 May 1968  Patrick Leonard Ryan               (b. 1916 - d. 19..)
 7 May 1968 - 19 Jun 1968  .... (acting)
20 Jun 1968 - 25 Jun 1969  John Peter Cyprian Burbrook        (b. 1922 - d. ....)
26 Jun 1969 - 28 Jul 1972  Cecil William Suthern              (b. 1927 - d. 2013)
14 Jul 1972 - 16 Jul 1975  Charles McManus                    (b. 1925 - d. 2018)
                             (acting for Suthern to 28 Jul 1972)
Administrators
23 Jul 1975 - 15 Nov 1977  Robert James Linford               (b. 1917 - d. 2007)
16 Nov 1977 - 31 Dec 1981  Charles Ivens Buffett              (s.a.)
 1 Jan 1981 - 20 Apr 1982  .... (acting)
21 Apr 1982 - 22 Nov 1983  Eric Herbert Hanfield              (b. 1918 - d. 2005)
23 Nov 1983 - 11 Dec 1983  .... (acting)
12 Dec 1983 - 19 Nov 1985  Kenneth "Ken" Chan                 (b. 1944)
20 Nov 1985 - 31 Dec 1987  Carolyn Meadley Stuart (f)         (b. 19.. - d. 2006)
 1 Jan 1988 - 30 Jun 1988  William "Bill" Syrette (acting)    (b. 19.. - d. 2017)
 1 Jul 1988 -  7 Nov 1988  Michael "Mike" Jopling (acting)
 8 Nov 1988 - 27 Nov 1990  Alline Dawn Lawrie (f)             (b. 1938)
 1 Dec 1990 -  4 Dec 1992  Barry Thomas Cunningham            (b. 1939 - d. 2018)
 5 Dec 1992 -  4 Dec 1994  John Bell Read                     (b. 1939)
 5 Dec 1994 - 31 Jan 1995  Dan "Danny" Ambrose Gillespie
                             (acting)
 1 Feb 1995 - 30 Jan 1996  Martin Scott Mowbray               (b. 1944)
 1 Feb 1996 - 12 Apr 1997  Jarl Andersson (acting)
12 Apr 1997 - 30 Sep 1997  Maureen Ellis (f) (acting)
 1 Oct 1997 -              the administrators of
                           Christmas Island

Chairmen of the Interim Advisory Council
16 Oct 1975 - Apr 1976     the administrator
Apr 1976 - 18 Mar 1978     Post abolished
Mar 1978 - 25 Jul 1979     Parson bin Yapat                   (b. 1948)
Chairmen of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Council
25 Jul 1979 - 22 Oct 1979  Parson bin Yapat (1st time)        (s.a.)
22 Oct 1979 - 22 Oct 1983  Wahin bin Bynie                    (b. 19.. - d. 2015)
22 Oct 1983 - 30 Jun 1992  Parson bin Yapat (2nd time)        (s.a.)
Presidents of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council
 1 Jul 1992 - May 1993     Parson bin Yapat                   (s.a.)
May 1993 - May 1995        Ronald "Ron" James Grant (1st time)(b. 1945)
May 1995 - May 1999        Haji Radal bin Feyrel
May 1999 - May 2001        Mohammed Said bin Chongkin
                             (1st time)
May 2001 - Oct 2007        Ronald "Ron" James Grant (2nd time)(s.a.)
Oct 2007 - Oct 2009        Mohammed Said bin Chongkin
                             (2nd time)
Oct 2009 - 29 Jun 2011     Balmut Pirus (1st time)
29 Jun 2011 - 28 Oct 2015  Aindil Minkom (1st time)
28 Oct 2015 - 25 Oct 2017  Balmut Pirus (2nd time)
25 Oct 2017 - 23 Oct 2019  Seriwati Iku (f)                   (b. 1980)
23 Oct 2019 -              Aindil Minkom (2nd time)

No Political Parties Exist; Administered by Australian Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.

 ¹In 1886 the Clunies-Ross family again declared the islands a kingdom; this title was not recognized by U.K. or Australia and by the time John Sidney Clunies-Ross the title was abandoned.