Where are the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and how are they governed?

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, consisting of two atolls and 27 coral islands. Discovered in 1609 by William Keeling, the islands are now administered by the Australian federal government and form an administrative grouping with Christmas Island. Public services are largely provided by the state of Western Australia, while the local population retains a degree of self-government through a shire council.

What we know

• The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are an Australian external territory located in the Indian Ocean between Australia and Sri Lanka. [1, 2]
• The territory comprises two atolls made up of 27 coral islands, with only West Island and Home Island being inhabited. [2]
• The Australian federal government administers the territory, while many public services are provided by the state of Western Australia. [2]
• The islands were discovered in 1609 by British sea captain William Keeling and later incorporated into Australia in 1955. [2]

Where to go next

• whenWho were the early settlers of the islands?
• how it workedWhat is the role of the local shire council?
• compared withHow does Christmas Island relate administratively?
• a case in pointWhat are other islands named Cocos Island?
• the bigger pictureWhat is an external territory of Australia?
• an unexpected connectionHow do these Indian Ocean islands connect to a Scottish merchant family?The Clunies-Ross family ruled the Cocos Islands as a private fiefdom for nearly 150 years after a Scottish merchant settled there in the early 19th century.

Sources

• [1]Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Wikidata Q36004) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Cocos (Keeling) Islands · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Cocos Island · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Cocos Island (Guam) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Cocos Island (disambiguation) · CC BY-SA 4.0