Story: Culture, People & Language
Episode: 1
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 15th November 2020
Trevor visits the largely unknown tropical paradise of the Cocos Keeling Islands to learn about the people and their culture.
- The Cocos Keeling Islands were first discovered by William Keeling in 1609, who described them as uninhabited.
- They were settled in 1826 by the English adventurer Alexander Hare, who brought his harem of 40 Malay women with him and started a coconut plantation.
- Scotsman John Clunies-Ross arrived on the islands a year after Hare. He changed the commercial nature of the plantations, causing Hare to leave.
- The British took possession of the Cocos Islands in 1857, before granting ownership to the Clunies-Ross family.
- The Clunies-Ross family relinquished their authority over the islands to Australia in 1978.
- The Cocos Keeling Islands is now one of the Indian Ocean Territories of Australia, along with Christmas Island to the north.
- The Twilight Market on Home Island is the best place to experience the islands’ rich Malay culture.
- Soak up the stunning coastal scenery and immerse yourself in Malaysian customs and cuisine.
For more information, head to
www.cocoskeelingislands.com.au