The photograph albums contain photos of various facets of the phosphate mining operations, as well as other matters, carried out on Christmas Island from 1909 to 1984. Phosphate mining was started on Christmas Island in 1897 by the Christmas Island Phosphate Company. In December 1948 the company sold its lease and assets to the Christmas Island Phosphate Commission (CIPC). This was a partnership between the Australian and New Zealand governments with the British Phosphate Commissioners engaged as managing agents. In 1958 Australia gained sovereignty over Christmas Island. The CIPC continued mining operations on the island until 1981 when it was dissolved and the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island (PMCI), an Australian government company was formed to manage mining operations on the island.

The photograph albums are numbered 1 to 14 on the spine and are hard covered volumes containing approximately 144 photographs in each volume. The photographs are mainly black and white of various sizes and are arranged in chronological order with captions on most pages describing the subject of the photos.

A film (8mm) and 9 additional photographs were received in December 2007. These show accommodations, ships and loading operations on the island pre-1942. These items have been entered as additional entries to the series.

In December 2011 a further 12 Albums numbered from 17 – 37 (with gaps) were transferred to National Archives’ custody by the Shire of Christmas Island.