Poon Saan Explained

Poon Saan
State:au
Type:town
Alternative Location Map:Christmas Island
Coordinates:-10.4225°N 105.6822°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Dist1:1.4
Dir1:northeast
Location1:Drumsite
Dist2:3.1
Dir2:east
Location2:Flying Fish Cove
Postcode:6798
Timezone:ICT
Utc:+07:00
Lga:Shire of Christmas Island
Fedgov:Lingiari
Near-N:Pacific Ocean
Near-Ne:Pacific Ocean
Near-Nw:Flying Fish Cove
Near-S:Drumsite
Near-Se:Pacific Ocean
Near-Sw:Drumsite
Near-E:Pacific Ocean
Near-W:Flying Fish Cove
Flying Fish Cove
Order:st
T:半山
S:半山
P:Bànshān

Poon Saan is the second largest village on Christmas Island, an external territory of Australia. It is administrated as part of the island capital - Flying Fish Cove. Ethnic Chinese make up the majority of inhabitants.[1] In Cantonese, Poon Saan (半山, Jyutping: bun3 saan1) means "halfway up the hill".[2] The architecture of Poon Saan reflects the Chinese heritage of the majority of residents in being Singapore style units, rather than the Western style common in Flying Fish Cove.[1]

The Java sparrow has become established on the island with populations near Poon Saan.[3]

Heritage

An area of the settlement, including the Poon Saan Club, Union of Christmas Island Workers office, cinema and several residential blocks, is listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List as the "Poon Saan Group" for its "significance to the Chinese population", "architectural styles imported from Singapore and rarely found in other parts of Australia", and for the "number of structures associated with the inception and development of the union movement on Christmas Island", while the cinema was considered significant for its role as a venue for mass meetings and as "an uncommon example of a relatively intact outdoor cinema".[4] The Phosphate Hill Historic Area, east of the settlement is also listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Christmas Island: An Anthropological Study. 2008. Simone Dennis. Cambria Press. 9781604975109. 91–.
  2. Web site: Christmas Island . 2007-11-29 . Island Life. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  3. Book: Thomas. Richard. Thomas. Sarah. Andrew. David. Alan McBride. The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia. 27 April 2013. 2011-02-23. Csiro Publishing. 9780643102262. 187–.
  4. 9/03/001/0006. 15 May 2019.
  5. 9/03/001/0009. 15 May 2019.