- Shire of Christmas Island
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Shire of Christmas Island 
Population: 1,440(2009)[1] • Density: 11/km² (28.5/sq mi) Area: 136.7 km² (52.8 sq mi) Council Seat: Christmas Island Region: External territory of Australia Federal Division: Lingiari 
The Shire of Christmas Island is a Local Government Area which manages local affairs on the Australian external territory of Christmas Island (10°29′S 105°37′E / 10.483°S 105.617°E; post code: 6798). The island is grouped with Western Australia but is administered by the Attorney-General's Department[2] and an Administrator.
It covers an area of 136.7 km² in the Indian Ocean about 2,360 km north-west of Perth and 500 km south of Java in Indonesia. It has a population of 1,448 (ABS 2001).
Contents
History
The island was previously a British territory administered through Singapore but was transferred to Australia in 1945. After 1958, it was managed by the Christmas Island Assembly and Christmas Island Services Corporation.[citation needed]
On 1 July 1992, the Federal Government's Territories Law Reform Act came into place, applying Western Australian law to the island. An ordinance subsequently created the Shire of Christmas Island out of a merger of the two previous entities. The first elections were held in May 1993.[3]
The shire's offices are located at George Fam Centre, Murray Road, Christmas Island.
Demographics
The shire has around 1,200 residents consisting mostly of ethnic Chinese, Malays, and people of European descent. The main languages spoken are English, Malay, and Mandarin Chinese[citation needed]. Some residents speak other Chinese dialects.[3] About 60% of the population speaks Chinese at home, 20% speak Malay at home, and 20% speak English or another European language at home.[4]
Wards
The shire has 9 councillors and no wards.
Education
Christmas Island District High School is the school on Christmas Island. Until the end of 2002 the school was a K-Year 10 school; previously all post-compulsory levels and now compulsory with the new school leaving age (Year 11 and Year 12) studied in Perth, Western Australia. Year 11 enrolment began in 2002, and by 2005 Years 11 and 12 had been established at the school. Christmas Island students have the option to remain on the island or study in Perth.[4]
The shire includes a public library for residents. The library has regular book exchanges with the State Library of Western Australia.[5]
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 March 2010). "Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2008–09". http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02008-09?OpenDocument. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ First Assistant Secretary, Territories Division (2008-01-30). "Territories of Australia". Attorney-General's Department. http://www.ag.gov.au/territories/. Retrieved 2008-02-07. "The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General's Department administers Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Jervis Bay, and Norfolk Island as Territories."[dead link]
- ^ a b "Welcome to the Shire of Christmas Island." Shire of Christmas Island. Retrieved on 23 February 2009.
- ^ a b "About Christmas Island." Christmas Island District High School. Retrieved on 23 February 2009.
- ^ "Public Library." Shire of Christmas Island. Retrieved on 23 February 2009.
External links
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