West Island Mosque facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Island Mosque |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Governing body | Islamic Council of Cocos Keeling Islands |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Alexander Street, West Island |
| State | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
| Country | Australia |
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 Location in Earth
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| Architecture | |
| Funded by | Australian Government |
| Date established | c. 1979 |
| Specifications | |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
| Materials | Timber, asbestos cement, metal roof |
| Official name: West Island Mosque | |
| Type | Listed place (Historic) |
| Designated | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference no. | 105219 |
The West Island Mosque is an important building located on West Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. These islands are a special part of Australia, known as an external territory. The mosque is listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List because of its historical importance. It was added to this list on June 22, 2004.
Contents
History of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands have a long and interesting history. They are located in the Indian Ocean.
Early Settlers and Plantations
Who Settled the Islands?
By the end of 1827, two groups of European settlers arrived on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. These groups were led by John Clunies Ross and Alexander Hare. They did not get along well. Clunies Ross first visited in 1825 but settled later in 1827. Alexander Hare arrived earlier in 1827 with about 40 people.
How the Islands Were Run
John Clunies Ross wanted to create a place to store spices and coffee. He set up a large coconut plantation. He used workers from other countries, mainly Malay and later Banlamese people. The Clunies Ross family had a lot of power. They provided houses and land for the workers' families.
Workers were paid for husking coconuts or for other services. There were rules about being absent from work. If families did not follow the rules, they had to leave the islands.
Changes in the Workforce
At first, some Malay people tried to go against Clunies Ross, but an agreement was made in 1837. Later, workers from Java were brought in. Some Javanese sailors also joined the community. There were marriages between Cocos Malay women and Clunies Ross men.
Life on Home Island
Home Island was where the Clunies Ross family lived. It was also home to the Cocos Malay workers. This island was the center for processing coconuts into copra (dried coconut meat) and oil. Workshops and storage buildings were also on Home Island.
Copra was the main product sold from the islands. Other necessary items were brought in from outside. Coconuts were husked, opened, and dried. The oil was also exported. You can still see the remains of the old storage sheds and furnaces on Home Island.
In the 1880s, new workshops and a jetty were built on the western side of Home Island. Railway tracks helped move goods around. These areas are still used today by the Cocos Islands community.
The 20th Century on the Islands
Island Control and Communication
The Clunies Ross family kept strict control over the islands. They limited how people could move and communicate between islands. Visitors were not encouraged to talk much with the Cocos Malay people.
In 1901, a telegraph station was set up on Direction Island. This station helped connect Perth in Western Australia with other places. During World War I in 1914, a German ship called the Emden attacked the station. The staff managed to send a message, and the HMAS Sydney arrived, leading to the Battle of Cocos.
World War II and Changes
During World War II, soldiers came to the islands. Their presence brought attention to the living conditions. Different groups of soldiers were stationed on Horsburgh Island, Direction Island, and South Island.
In March 1942, a Japanese warship attacked Home Island. Air raids also damaged homes. Because the islands were important for military reasons, more soldiers arrived. By the end of World War II, about 1800 people lived there. Many people were later moved to other places like Borneo and Singapore.
In 1945, the Royal Air Force and other air forces built an airstrip on West Island. They cleared many coconut trees to do this. After the war, over 3,000 troops left.
Australian Government Takes Over
After the war, the Government of Singapore felt the Clunies Ross family's way of managing workers was not fair. By 1951, the Australian Government took control of the islands. The Clunies Ross family sold some land to the Australian Government for an airfield. This airfield was improved and used by Qantas for international flights.
In the 1950s, an air-sea rescue station was built on Direction Island. Its staff helped ships and planes with sick or injured people. Later, this station was moved to West Island.
From 1953, the main government office was on West Island. This led to West Island growing with more government buildings and a hospital. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands officially became an Australian territory in 1955.
Self-Government and New Beginnings
By the late 1960s, the Australian Government and the United Nations were concerned about the Clunies Ross family's system. They wanted the islands to become self-governing. After a United Nations visit in 1974, the Australian Government bought most of the land.
By 1978, the people gained self-government. In 1979, a local council was formed to run the islands. The copra industry stopped being profitable by 1987.
The West Island Mosque Building
How the Mosque Was Created
The building that is now the West Island Mosque was not always on West Island. It was moved from Direction Island. It used to be part of the air and sea rescue station there.
The building became a mosque around 1979. This happened as the Cocos Malay community gained more control over their own affairs. Having a mosque on West Island made it easier for Cocos Malay people to work there.
What the Mosque Looks Like
The West Island Mosque is a single-story building. It is built with a timber frame and covered with asbestos cement. It has a new metal roof. Some parts of the building have been updated with fibrous cement. In 1996, the building was in good condition.
Why the Mosque is Important
The West Island Mosque is important for several reasons. It shows how the Cocos Malay community became more independent after 1979. The mosque helped people move freely between Home and West Islands. It also supported Cocos Malay people working in government and other jobs on West Island.
The mosque is also important because it was one of the buildings moved from Direction Island. It used to be part of the old signals and air/sea rescue station.
The West Island Mosque was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004. It met specific criteria for this listing.
Historical Significance (Criterion A)
The West Island Mosque is historically important. It shows the Cocos Malay community becoming self-governing after 1979. The mosque helped people travel between islands and supported their jobs on West Island. It is also significant because it was moved from Direction Island.
Social Value (Criterion G)
The mosque has great social value for the Cocos Malay people living on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. It is a central part of their community and culture.
