blenheim 001blenheim_0

(click image for larger view)



Located in the northeastern part of the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory, Blenheim Reef is about 7 miles by 5 miles with a lagoon that is much smaller due to the area considered a reef flat. The lagoon reaches a depth of about 60 feet with a passage on the southwest end. As a result, the reef is a maritime hazard that has resulted in 57 ship wrecks and a loss of life numbering around 200. The reef is located at 5° 12’ South and 72° 28’ East. The nearest land is the tiny Takamaka Island in the Salomon Islands, about 12 to 13 miles to the southwest. The reef is entirely under water except for four small strips of land on the eastern rim.

The four islands include the largest, East Island, some 650 feet by 230 feet in size, North Island, Middle Island and South Island. The remaining three islands are smaller than East Island. The total land area is 10.4 acres.

Discovered in 1570, it was not until 1845 that Blenheim Reef was populated. For a short 15 years guano and phosphate were mined, but with transportation being a problem, the project was abandoned. Blenheim Reef would remain uninhabited twenty years until the Indian Ocean Fruit Company planted the island in palm trees. This venture was short-lived when a typhoon washed the seedlings out to sea. Blenheim Reef would remain uninhabited for decades until the Indian Ocean Fruit Company would attempt the project again around 1937.

Arthur Sanderson, owner of Indian Ocean Fruit Company, grew up in England and had a fascination with tropical islands. His friends said he had an adventurous spirit. Some had remarked his dream was to live on a remote tropical island. Most felt his career choice was motivated by that dream as he went to work for a shipping company and quickly worked up the ranks. His eagerness to be assigned to distant ports eventually led to him arranging for a visit to Blenheim Reef with a fellow shipmate, Tashi, of Indian decent. Together they decided to reclaim Blenheim Reef and restart the Indian Ocean Fruit Company.

Under Sanderson a couple of families were kept on the islands to care for the plantings. In 1947 the island’s owner and his family took up residence on East Island and coordinated imports and exports for the island. Prior to this, the owner’s manager, “Tashi” Jameel, handled the island operations. During this time, the islands operated much as the Cocos Keeling Islands operated.

In 1948, the company had little money. Sanderson, the owner, took a position with his former shipping company employer that now called on Blenheim Reef. His knowledge of the various islands proved him worthy as captain of the vessel that called on some of the Mauritius and Seychelles minor islands. The money earned helped keep the Indian Ocean Fruit Company afloat.

In 1950, a recent hired hand on the island gained access to a gun and led a revolt, killing Jameel and sending Sanderson’s wife and two children away from the islands in a motorized boat. Sanderson’s wife and children reached one of the Salomon Islands in the Chagos Archipelago. Word reached Sanderson and he picked up his family and returned to Blenheim Reef where three workers loyal to Sanderson were found tending the island. Sanderson hired a member of his crew to manage the island. Despite the revolt and death of Jameel, the cash from Sanderson’s job was just what the Indian Ocean Fruit Company needed to survive until crops could produce enough income. Some say Sanderson was forever changed by the death of Jameel, claiming the two were as close as brothers sharing the same goals and ideals.

It was 1953 when the Indian Ocean Fruit Company’s owner proclaimed the islands an independent nation. Sanderson sent letters to the United Nations and several nations including the British Crown and neighboring nations in the Indian Ocean. There was never an acknowledgement to any letters except for a worker in Port Louis on Mauritius, in the Economic Development Office who knew Sanderson personally.

When the British Indian Ocean Territory’s native population was being relocated (mostly to Mauritius), the handful of islanders on Blenheim Reef were not included. This was because Blenheim Reef had never been claimed by any nation. It was not until 1975 when Blenheim Reef was claimed as a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

1975 was an interesting year for Blenheim Reef. When the British Crown claimed the islands, a move was made to eject the population. Sanderson, still holding the letter from a British Government worker in Port Louis, presented it as evidence of the autonomous rights of Blenheim Reef. These claims were flatly rejected in higher ranks, however the Officer In Charge, acting as Administrator of the British Indian Ocean Territory seemed somewhat sympathetic to Sanderson. He asked for time to ’work things out’ with the right folks. A few weeks later, the Administrator suggested Sanderson and family and crew head for the island Sanderson leased in the Cargados Carajos Island Group. Sanderson signed a 99 year lease on the island some 20 years prior and had leased the island to a company that operated a fishing camp on a nearby island. It is said this bit of income helped Blenheim Reef through its rough years.

The Administrator’s plan was to fulfill the evacuation orders for the populated islands while working out a lease to Sanderson for Blenheim Reef and its eventual repopulation. Within three months the plan was in place.

While Sanderson maintained he could prove his claim to Blenheim Reef, it’s declaration as an independent nation, and believed any court would find in his favor, the Administrator agreed but reasoned such a case might take many years and many times Sanderson’s net worth. Sanderson was swayed to sign a 99 year lease for 1 British Pound per annum. He had to agree to making prior travel arrangements with the Administrator’s Office but managed a couple of ‘gentleman’s agreements’ that would be in effect on a local level. This included a battery operated radio on Blenheim to receive communications and weather reports as well as free evacuation for emergency medical care on Diego Garcia for the inhabitants of Blenheim Reef.

Over the years Blenheim Reef has weathered typhoons and even the 2004 tsunami. The tsunami did do some damage, taking an acre or two of land as waves washed over the bulk of each island, covering most of East Island in a few inches of saltwater. There was no loss of life but some plant life died, especially those crops sensitive to salt.

The population has varied over the years but is typically around 20. About half of the population is made up of a fishing camp while the other half is made up of the Sanderson family and workers who tend the copra and palm oil production as well as the garden for use as a food source on the island.

Housing is mostly thatched huts although the small Sanderson home and manager’s home are of typical home construction but are very small, only 3 rooms and around 500 square feet. The store is of standard construction and about 300 square feet. The workers, including fishermen, generally live in thatched huts. It has been noted there is not much need for housing as most of the day is spent outdoors.

The primary exports are coconut oil, copra, fish and some loose seashells and pieces of coral. In accordance with current regulations, only loose pieces of coral and shells that wash up on shore may be collected. A ship comes to the islands once or twice a year. A wooden boat with outboard motor is the only source of transportation off the island and the primary source of goods brought to the island, which is limited to about 4 to 6 trips a year.

There is substantial direct trade as some Moken stop at the island. The Moken are nomadic seafaring people.

Today the island is managed by Andrew Sanderson, nicknamed ‘Little Tashi’ by his father. His wife said he earned the nickname because his father saw many of the characteristics of Tashi Jameel in his son.


As mentioned, the islands are company owned with inhabitants being the employees of the company. These families are paid in a local currency and spend this money at the company store for needed items. In function, it’s operation is pretty much identical to the Cocos Keeling Islands when they were owned and operated by the Clunies-Ross family.

On the Cocos Keeling Islands, the typical wage was around $5 US per week per worker in the late 1960s and the 1970s. Prices of the items for sale at the company store on the Cocos Keeling Islands were as little as 1% of the going retail price.

Such is the case for Blenheim Reef. While little money is needed and most food is caught or harvested, it has been said a single Hana could buy enough rice to feed a man for a month. We suspect this was an attempt to keep the families on the island as their wages would not allow them to afford even the basics off the island.

The Blenheim Reef store, while very scant in inventory, offers items at incredibly low prices, but only to the residents. Some common stock is priced as low as 100 to 500 times less than a supermarket in a major port city. Naturally, full price is paid by the company that subsidizes the cost. The reasoning, we are told, is Blenheim Reef is cash poor. Some speculate the island has few coins and must make do with the supply on hand.

Much like the Clunies-Ross family, the local currency was mostly made of non-valuable materials and virtually worthless off the islands. Such a concept was used to prevent trades with passing ships and simply made it more difficult for families to start a new life elsewhere.

The currency of Blenheim Reef is the Hana. The Hana is valued at .7 gram of pure silver. The islands issued silver coins in 1953 to celebrate their proclamation of being an independent nation. The following issue of coins was in 1976, not long after resettlement. Some have said the reason for the small silver coin was to convince workers to come to the island. It is pointed out the murder of the manager by one of the workers made potential employees feel the islands were not a safe place to live.

Paper notes in fractions of a Hana have circulated in recent years. Small change chits are sometimes issued on the spot at the store.

Wood tokens in ½, and ¼ Hana are circulated. Paper notes in 1 to 7 Pura circulate. The smallest value note is the 1 Pura, approximately 1/32nd of a Hana. Most of these were created on the spot to make change at the store.

Essential items at the company store are incredibly low priced but non-essential items, while more expensive, are still incredibly subsidized. For example, 1/32nd Hana would buy you enough rice to feed you for a day but it would take 1/3rd Hana to purchase a pack of cigarettes.


Members Area

Featured Products

Recent Photos