Christmas Island, Australia

Today's Flag

is: Christmas Island - an Australian dependency situated about 850 nautical miles northwest of Australia.  First sighted by Captain William Mynors of the British East India Company on Christmas Day in 1643.  Discovered uninhabited in the 1850's, it was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1888 in order to take advantage of its rich phosphate deposits.  Administered from Singapore until The Christmas Island Phosphate Company was purchased by Australia in 1949.  In order to bring the territory under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia, it was transferred from Singapore for the sum of £2,800,000 on 1 October 1958: this is the date celebrated on the island as Territory Day.  The flag was designed by former resident Tony Couch as the winning entry to a contest sponsored by the Island Assembly with a total prize fund of $100.  The elements represent the Southern Cross, a golden bosun bird, and the disc in the centre contains gold representing the valuable minerals found there, while the green represents the lush native vegetation in the actual shape of the island. The design was accepted in 1986, however was only declared the official flag of the Shire of Christmas Island by that government on Australia Day (26 Jan) 2002. 

Quick Facts

Monarch: King Charles III

Title: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Australia and His other Realms and Territories. Head of the Commonwealth 

Accession: 8 September 2022

Represented by: Administrator

Population:  2,072 (click here for current statistic)

Subjects of Christmas Island are called: Christmas Islanders

State Religion: n/a

Currency: AU$ Australian Dollar

Capital: Flying Fish Cove

Population: 1,347

Type of Government: Australian Territory

Governing Body:  Christmas Island Assembly, Federal Government acting under the laws of the State of West Australia

Founded: 1 Oct 1958

Flag Adopted: 26 Jan 2002

Special National Holiday: Australia Day - 26 January

Map: Christmas Island Tourist Association