Direction Island Slipway and Tank facts for kids

The Direction Island Slipway and Tank are old structures found on Direction Island. These structures are important because they show how the islands were used in the past. They are listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List as a special historic site. This happened on June 22, 2004.

History of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Early Settlers and Coconut Plantations

In the late 1820s, two groups of European settlers arrived. John Clunies-Ross and his group came in 1825. They settled on the islands by the end of 1827. Another person, Alexander Hare, arrived earlier in 1827.

John Clunies-Ross wanted to create a supply base. He planned to ship spices and coffee to Europe. He set up a system to manage the islands. It became a large coconut plantation.

The Clunies-Ross family used workers from Malay and Bantamese backgrounds. These workers helped grow coconuts and make copra. Copra is dried coconut meat. The family provided homes and land for the workers.

Home Island became the main place for the Clunies-Ross family. It was also where the Cocos Malay workers lived. This island was the center for processing coconuts. They made copra and coconut oil there.

Workshops and storage buildings were also on Home Island. These places helped the island economy. They also helped the Clunies-Ross family control things. Copra was the main product sent away from the islands. Other goods were brought in for the people living there.

Changes to the Island Economy

Coconuts were husked and opened. The inside meat was dried in the sun. Later, special ovens were used for drying. The oil from coconuts was also sold. Home Island still has parts of the old drying sheds and ovens.

At first, workshops were on the south side of Home Island. By the 1880s, new workshops were built. These were on the western shore. A new jetty was also built. It helped load and unload ships. Railway tracks moved goods around the island. These old buildings are still used today.

Strategic Importance of Direction Island

The Clunies-Ross family controlled movement between islands. They did not want visitors mixing with the Cocos Malay people. In 1901, a telegraph station was built. It was on Direction Island. This station helped send messages. It connected Perth, Western Australia to other places. These included Rodrigues, Mauritius, and Batavia.

During World War I, this station was very important. In 1914, a German ship called Emden attacked. A German group landed on Direction Island. They destroyed the telegraph equipment. But the staff managed to send a message. They reported the German ship. Soon after, HMAS Sydney arrived. A sea battle happened near the islands. This was known as the Battle of Cocos.

The Islands During World War II

During World War II, soldiers came to the islands. The Ceylon Coastal Artillery was stationed there. Guns were placed on Horsburgh Island. Soldiers from the Ceylon Light Infantry were on Direction Island. Kenyan soldiers were on South Island.

In March 1942, a Japanese warship attacked Home Island. Air raids also damaged the village. Because of its important location, more soldiers arrived. By the end of World War II, about 1800 people lived on the islands. Many people were asked or made to leave. They went to places like Borneo, Singapore, and Christmas Island.

Australian Government Takes Control

After World War II, the Royal Air Force arrived. The Royal Indian Air Force and Fleet Air Arm also came. They built an airstrip on West Island. Thousands of coconut trees were cleared for this. After the war, over 3,000 soldiers left.

By 1951, the Australian Government took control. They bought 150 hectares from the Clunies-Ross family. This land was for building an airfield. An airstrip for small planes was already there. It was used by Qantas sometimes. After 1952, Qantas used the upgraded airstrip. It was a stop for flights from Australia to Europe.

From 1944, a government leader lived on Home Island. But in 1953, the main government house moved to West Island. This caused West Island to grow. It became home to Australian government workers. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands officially became an Australian territory in 1955.

Self-Government and End of Copra Production

By the late 1960s, the Australian Government was concerned. The United Nations also looked at the islands. They discussed how the islands could become self-governing. In 1974, a United Nations group visited.

The Australian Government bought most of the land. This was completed by 1978. The people gained self-government. In 1979, a local council was formed. It was called the Shire of Cocos. A cooperative was also set up to run the islands. By 1987, making copra was no longer profitable. So, production stopped.

What are the Slipway and Tank?

The Slipway and Tank are on the south-east side of Direction Island. The slipway is a ramp that goes into the water. It has iron tracks on concrete. It was used to pull boats out of the water. On land, there are concrete bases. These are believed to be for a winch. A winch is a machine that pulls things.

Near the slipway are the remains of a water tank. It has a concrete base. Parts of its steel sides are still there. These structures helped service flying boats during World War II. They might also have helped other boats. This shows how important Direction Island was for military and rescue operations.

In 1996, the concrete slipway was in fair condition. Its tracks were rusty. The water tank had fallen apart and was rusty.

Why are they important?

The Slipway and Tank are important because they are evidence of the past. They show the islands' role in helping flying boats. This happened during World War II. They might also have been used for boats at a rescue station. These functions highlight the important location of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. They are in the Indian Ocean. These structures also tell us about how Direction Island was used long ago.