Direction Island Houses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Direction Island Houses |
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| Location | Air Force Road, West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia |
| Official name: Direction Island (DI) Houses | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105358 |
The Direction Island (DI) Houses are special old homes located on Air Force Road, West Island, in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia. They are considered important because of their history and unique design. These houses were added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004. This means they are protected as part of Australia's history.
Where These Houses Came From
The two Direction Island Houses you see today were not always on West Island. They first stood on Direction Island. In the 1950s, they were part of a special station. This station helped ships and planes that needed assistance. It answered calls for help from passengers and crew who were sick or injured.
Five modern bungalows were built for this station. They were designed to handle the local weather. These houses were made in Australia and then shipped to Direction Island. They were set up along the lagoon shores. In 1966, the station closed down. After that, the houses were moved to West Island.
What the Houses Look Like
The Direction Island Houses are the two homes furthest south on the western side of Air Force Drive. They are on the southern end of West Island. Both houses are made with timber frames. They are built in a modular way, meaning they were put together from pre-made sections.
Each house has verandahs on its long sides. The back verandahs are screened in. A special feature is their sloped paired posts. The design of these houses is unique. It works very well for the island's climate. People believe they were built in Australia in sections. In the year 2000, these houses were checked. They were found to be in mostly good condition.
Why These Houses Are Important
The Direction Island Houses are very important. They are two of the last homes remaining from the old Direction Island station. This station played a key role in the 1950s. It provided help to ships and aircraft in need. The houses were moved to West Island after the station closed in 1966.
These houses are special because of their design. They are well-suited to the climate of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. They were also pre-fabricated in Australia. This means they were built in parts and then assembled on the island. They are good examples of how buildings were made for these conditions.
