Shire of Christmas Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shire of Christmas Island |
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| Population: | 1,448 (2001 census) |
| • Density: | 11/km² (28.5/sq mi) |
| Area: | 136.7 km² (52.8 sq mi) |
| Mayor: | Gordon Thomson |
| Council Seat: | Christmas Island |
| Region: | External territory of Australia |
| Federal Division: | Lingiari |
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The Shire of Christmas Island is a Local Government Area which manages local affairs on the Australian external territory of Christmas Island (; post code: 6798). The island is grouped with Western Australia but is administered by the Attorney-General's Department[1] 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).
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[edit] 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.
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.
The shire's offices are located at George Fam Centre, Murray Road, Christmas Island.
[edit] Wards
The shire has 9 councillors and no wards.
[edit] References
- ^ First Assistant Secretary, Territories Division (2008-01-30). Territories of Australia. Attorney-General's Department. Retrieved on 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.”
