Keeling Palms

Cocos West Island – Postcode 6799

This Australian territory, together with Home Island and 27 coral islands is located in the Indian Ocean 2 950 km n-w of Perth and 3 700 km west of Darwin. The islands were annexed by the British in 1857 and in 1886 Queen Victoria granted them to the Scottish Clunies-Ross family in perpetuity. A number of battles ensued during both world wars with control transferred to Australia in 1955. 

Covered in coconut palms with a mostly pleasant climate, cyclones during the early months of the year do occasionally hit the islands. The total land area of both islands is 14 sq km with West Island having a population of mostly ethnic Europeans of about 120.

A Cocos dialect of Malay and English is the main language and 80% of the Islanders are Sunni Muslim. Coconuts and copra are the islands’ major exports and most necessities have to be imported from Australia. The Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd employs construction workers and stevedores, whilst the growing tourism industry employs others. There is a paved airport on West Island with scheduled flights from Perth and a lagoon anchorage.