Oceania House Cocos Island

Oceania House is a two-storey mansion built between 1887 and 1904 for George Clunies-Ross (1868-1944) with bricks brought from Scotland, and using local labour.  The house stands as a testament to George Clunies-Ross’s vision for the islands.  Soil for the grounds was shipped from Christmas Island.  Oceania House is of interest architecturally, with an idiosyncratic style and detailing, possibly reflecting, the isolation of the owners from the mainstream Australian taste of the time.  

Today, the property is held in high esteem by the Cocos Malay community due to its importance to their history and society. Set just meters from the edge of the foreshore, with extensive views across the lagoon and delightfully furnished with genuine antiques, Oceania House provides a touch of Colonial elegance in the busy 21st century.  It has been open to the public since 2017.  The rooms are spacious and there are fine views of the island’s landscapes beside the lagoon.