A Private Family Once Ruled Cocos Islands for 150 Years

The Clunies-Ross family, descendants of Scottish merchant John Clunies-Ross, effectively governed the islands as their private fiefdom from 1827 until their eventual sale to Australia in 1978. They were known as the 'Kings of Cocos'.

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_(Keeling)_Islands#History

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Published: March 30, 2026
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Cocos Islands History Government Weird Clunies-Ross Private Rule Feudalism Australian History Indian Ocean

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