The island was previously a British territory administered through Singapore but was transferred to Australia in 1945.

As per the Federal Government's Territories Law Reform Act 1992, which came into force on 1 July 1992, Western Australian laws are applied to Christmas Island "so far as they are capable of applying in the Territory.

The Act also gives Western Australian courts judicial power over Christmas Island.

An ordinance subsequently created the Shire of Christmas Island out of a merger of the two previous entities.

[4] The Shire's offices are located at George Fam Centre, Murray Road, Christmas Island.

[5][6] The main languages spoken are English, Malay, and Mandarin Chinese[citation needed].