West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

West Island (Malay: Pulau Panjang, Cocos Malay: Pulu Panjang), part of the South Keeling Islands, is the capital of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The population is roughly 120 making it the third smallest capital in the world, and consists mainly of Europeans. It is the less populous of the two inhabited islands (the other is Home Island).

West Island
Native name:
Malay: Pulau Panjang
Cocos Malay: Pulu Panjang
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, showing West Island
West Island
West Island in the Indian Ocean
Geography
LocationIndian Ocean
Coordinates12°11′13″S 96°49′42″E
ArchipelagoCocos (Keeling) Islands
Area6.23 km2 (2.41 sq mi)
Administration
Australia
External territory of AustraliaAustralian Indian Ocean Territories
TerritoryCocos (Keeling) Islands
CapitalCanberra
Demographics
Population120
Languages
Additional information
Time zone

West Island was part of the Clunies-Ross plantation and an airstrip was built here during World War II. As well as all the government buildings, it contains the airport, a general store and tourist accommodation. In November 2013 it was revealed that the Australian Signals Directorate operates a listening station on West Island.[1] Wullenweber and Adcock antenna systems as well as two satellite dish antennae are clearly visible via Google satellite view.

Education

Cocos Islands District High School operates a primary and secondary campus on West Island. Most of the students of that campus originate from the Australian continent.[2]

Heritage listings

West Island contains a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

See also

References
  1. Dorling, Philip (1 November 2013). "Listening post revealed on Cocos Islands". Canberra Times.
  2. Home. Cocos Islands District High School. Retrieved on 8 April 2019.
  3. "Administration Building Forecourt (Place ID 105356)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  4. "Direction Island (DI) Houses (Place ID 105358)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  5. "Government House (Place ID 105360)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  6. "Qantas Huts (former) (Place ID 105354)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  7. "RAAF Memorial (Place ID 105353)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  8. "Type 2 Residences (Place ID 105357)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  9. "Type T Houses Precinct (Place ID 105408)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  10. "West Island Elevated Houses (Place ID 105359)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  11. "West Island Housing Precinct (Place ID 105223)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  12. "West Island Mosque (Place ID 105219)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
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