West Island Housing Precinct facts for kids

The West Island Housing Precinct is a special group of homes on West Island, which is part of Australia. These homes are located on Air Force Road. This area is considered important because of its history and unique design. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004.

What is the West Island Housing Precinct?

This housing area is found on a narrow piece of land. It sits between an airstrip and the ocean. The houses are built in rows, facing these two important features of West Island life.

Most of the houses are made with a timber (wood) frame. They are covered with a material called asbestos cement sheeting. Many of these homes were designed in Australia. Some were even partly built there before being shipped to the island.

Types of Homes in the Precinct

The West Island Housing Precinct includes several different kinds of houses:

• Government House: This is the official residence for the government representative.
• Type 2 Residences: These are a common style of home.
• West Island Elevated Houses: These are larger versions of the Type 2 homes.
• Type T Houses: Also known as "Type A" homes, these have a unique T-shape.
• Direction Island Houses: Two houses that were moved from Direction Island.

Direction Island Houses: A Journey to West Island

The houses from Direction Island are made of wood and built in sections. They have porches (verandahs) along their long sides. The back porches are screened in. These homes also have special sloped posts.

Originally, these houses were on Direction Island. They were part of a station that helped ships and planes. This station closed after 1966. The houses were then moved to West Island.

Type T Houses: Designed for the Tropics

The "Type T" houses were built in the 1950s. They were updated in 1979. These homes have three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room. They also have a front porch. Their design looks like the letter "T," which is how they got their name.

Type 2 Houses: Many Variations

The "Type 2" houses were also built in the 1950s. Many different versions of these homes exist. This was done by making the basic floor plan longer. Most of them have unique sloped walls at the ends. These houses usually have three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room. A large hallway leads to the front porch.

West Island Elevated Houses: Larger Homes

The West Island Elevated Houses are bigger versions of the standard "Type 2" homes. They are located at the far south end of the island. One of these, the Shire Clerk's house, has a large porch added to its west side.

Government House: A Special Residence

Government House was built around 1953. It was created for the Australian Government's representative on the island. While it's part of the precinct, it looks quite different from the other government homes.

The property is surrounded by a white wooden fence. It has a formal entrance. The main house is covered in asbestos cladding. There's also a separate garage and a brick guest house. The driveway is formal with white painted edges. There's a flag pole, and the house is set up for entertaining guests.

The area around the houses is like a big, flat lawn. It has palm trees and other tropical plants. This mix of 1950s houses, formal gardens, and open spaces without fences is quite rare in Australia.

How Are the Houses Now?

The houses from Direction Island were rebuilt when they moved to West Island in 1966. The Type "T" houses were updated in 1979. They are still in very good condition. Government House is also in good shape. The Elevated Houses and Type Two houses are generally well-maintained, though some have been changed a bit. Overall, the entire housing area is in good condition.

In 2000, a review found that the houses were in good shape. Some homes have had porches (verandahs) and carports added. There is also a plan to repaint the houses. The garden and fence at Government House need some care. Even with these changes, the buildings still look mostly as they were intended.

Why is This Place Important?

The West Island Housing Precinct is important for several reasons. It brings together different types of homes: Type "T" Houses, Government House, the former Direction Island Houses, Elevated Houses, and Type Two Houses. They are all set in a similar landscape.

The houses were built in the 1950s. They have a consistent style, using asbestos cement sheets. Their designs are perfect for the local tropical weather. The open lawns without fences and the tropical plants make this area a rare and well-preserved example of a housing precinct on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

This precinct is also important because it shows how housing was set up for Australian Government employees in the 1950s. These employees helped the Cocos Malay people move towards self-governance. The West Island Housing Precinct played a big role in developing West Island. This development grew even more after Government House was built on West Island in 1953.

The Type "T" Houses are especially important. They are located in a row near the ocean. They were the main type of housing provided for Australian staff back then.

Government House has a similar design to other early Australian Government houses on the islands. It features a formal driveway, fencing, a flag pole, and an area for entertaining. It also has a great view of the ocean.

The former Direction Island Houses are significant because they are two pre-built homes. They came from the old Direction Island signal and air rescue station. This station helped ships and planes in trouble during the 1950s. These houses were moved to West Island after the station closed in 1966.

The Elevated Houses and Type Two Houses also add to the importance of the precinct. The Elevated Houses are located at the far south of West Island, close to Government House. This suggests they had an important status on the islands. The Type Two Houses form two separate groups within the precinct.