Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2013-2018 (Cth)

Commonwealth of Australia

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Section 324S(2) and section 341S(2)

Instrument revoking and replacing Management Plan

I, Paul Grimes, Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, delegate of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, under sections 324S(2) and 341S(2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, revoke the management plan specified in column 1 of Table 1 and replace with the management plan specified in column 2 of Table 1, as the plan to protect and manage the Commonwealth Heritage values and the National Heritage Values of the place specified in column 3 of Table 1:

Table 1

Previous Management Plan	New Management Plan	Heritage Place
Mawson’s Huts Historic Site 2007-12	Mawson’s Huts Historic Site  2013-18	Mawson’s Huts Historic Site (National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List)

The management plan will commence the day after it is registered as a legislative instrument under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

Dated     25 June 2013

   Paul Grimes 

Paul Grimes

Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Delegate of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Mawson’s Huts Historic Site

Management Plan 2013-2018

© Commonwealth of Australia 2013

Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2013-2018
Australian Antarctic Division

Prepared by Deborah Bourke, Senior Policy Advisor, Australian Antarctic Division

ISBN X XXX XXXXX X

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Antarctic Division.

Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

The Director
Australian Antarctic Division
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
203 Channel Highway
KINGSTON TAS 7050

Acknowledgments

This management plan draws on the expertise and the work of numerous people who have been involved over several decades in the campaign to protect Mawson’s Huts. Some have contributed to the campaign - and the debate over its methods - as specialists, and others as enthusiasts. Some have voyaged to Antarctica, while others remained in Australia to guide, support and promote their efforts.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) prepared this plan to meet its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) obligations arising from the National and Commonwealth Heritage listings of Mawson’s Huts Historic Site. While the Strategies Branch of the AAD is responsible for the contents of the plan, it acknowledges the direct and indirect contributions of the diverse community of interest.

Aspects of this plan are based on the previous management plan prepared in 2007. Much of the technical and contextual information and many of the policy directions used in the 2007 Management Plan were based on the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Conservation Management Plan 2001,prepared by Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd (under a steering committee of the AAD, Mawson’s Huts Foundation and the Australian Heritage Commission). Substantial material that has been incorporated directly from the 2001 conservation management plan has been cited. However, throughout this plan Godden Mackay Logan’s work has been a key source. For practical reasons, other documents used in the development of this plan are listed in the bibliography (see Part 4).

The 2007 management plan was subject to an internal and external review of its effectiveness. In March 2011 a request for comments on the previous management plan was circulated to heritage experts and organisations with a known interest in the conservation and management of Mawson’s Huts. The AAD was grateful for comments in this phase from the ANARE Club Council, Michelle Berry, Julian Bickersteth, Fiona Tennant, Ian Godfrey, Peter Maxwell, Stirling Smith and Robert Vincent. A public notice seeking comment on the review of the 2007 management plan was also advertised on 15 October 2011, as required under sections 324W and 341X of the EPBC Act. However, no additional comments were received. Following consideration of comments received during the review, a revised plan was prepared and placed on public display, as required under sections 324S and 341S of the EPBC Act. Comments on the revised plan were sought between 21 July 2012 and 24 August 2012.  Eight submissions were received which assisted in finalising this plan. Assistance was also provided by Bruce Hull, Environment Officer, Australian Antarctic Division.

The State Library of New South Wales granted permission to use photographs from its AAE collection. Photographs from recent conservation expeditions undertaken by Mawson’s Huts Foundations and  the AAD also illustrate this plan.

Foreword

Antarctica occupies a unique place in Australia’s national identity and history.  No site more fully or vividly evokes that place than Mawson’s Huts, which stand today as a testament to the endeavour and endurance that are central to the Australian story and a hallmark of our national Antarctic program. 

Amid the drama of the “Heroic Era” of Antarctic exploration, Australian geologist Douglas Mawson set off from Hobart to lead the 1911–1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) in exploring a section of the practically unknown Antarctic coast.  This was Australia’s first large-scale scientific program after Federation.

The AAE was groundbreaking in every respect, innovating and introducing such ‘new’ technology as radio communications and utilising a wingless plane as an air tractor for hauling sledges. Despite the bitter cold and isolation, the AAE expeditioners gathered a wealth of scientific and geographical information and established a proud legacy which stands to this day. This expedition and two subsequent expeditions between 1929 and 1931 laid the foundations for the Australian Antarctic Territory which covers 42% of the continent.

For one hundred years, the AAE huts at Cape Denison have been emblematic of Australia’s Antarctic history as the birthplace and forerunner of the work now supported or undertaken by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Their significance has been nationally recognised through the listing of the site as a National Heritage place and a Commonwealth Heritage place.

The isolation and extreme conditions of the Mawson’s Huts site make the work of conserving them extremely challenging. Despite this, significant progress in the conservation of the huts has been made under the previous management plan, including stabilisation works to the Transit Hut, ice excavation from the Main Hut and the on-site conservation of many artefacts. Much of this work has been achieved through the combined efforts of the Australian Government and dedicated and hardworking private groups such as the Mawson’s Huts Foundation.

One hundred years after the commencement of Mawson’s inspirational expedition, this management plan will guide Australian efforts to preserve that moment in time when the AAE abandoned the site to the elements in December 1913.  It also allows for an appreciation of what one hundred years of exposure to extreme cold and regular blizzards can do to the fabric of the huts.

The Australian Government remains committed to the careful and strategic management of the Mawson’s Huts site and will continue to work closely with interested organisations to protect and manage this most precious and unique example of Australia’s Antarctic history.  One hundred years on from Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition, it is my pleasure to reflect on the significance of Mawson’s legacy and to recommend this plan and its contents to all Australians.

Tony Burke

Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water Population and Communities

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Executive Summary

PART 1 – INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Objective of the Plan

1.1.3 Overarching Conservation Philosophy

1.1.4 Objectives

1.1.5 Conservation Principles

1.2 Management Framework

1.2.1 International Treaties, Australian Statutory Requirements and Conservation Charters

1.2.2 Agency Mechanisms

1.2.3 Decision Making Process for Management of the Site

1.2.4 Collaborative Partnerships

PART 2 – SITE DESCRIPTION AND HERITAGE VALUES

2.1 Location

2.2 Physical Features

2.2.1 Cape Denison Landscape

2.2.2 Cape Denison Flora and Fauna

2.2.3 Cultural Features on Cape Denison

2.2.4 Fabric Description

2.3 Historical Context

2.4 Current Uses

2.4.1 Heritage Conservation

2.4.2 Tourism

2.5. Heritage Values

2.5.1 Method and Basis of Assessment of Heritage Values

2.5.2 Description of National and Commonwealth Heritage Values

2.6 Natural Heritage Values

2.7 Condition of Fabric

2.7.1 Wall and Roof Cladding

2.7.2 Structural Capacity of the Buildings

2.7.3 Corrosion of Metal Connectors

2.7.4 Ice and Anchorage

2.7.5 Artefacts and Fixtures

2.7.6 Unknown Factors

2.8 Condition and Integrity of Values – Summary

2.9 Pressures on National and Commonwealth Heritage Values

2.9.1 Environmental Pressures

2.9.2 Logistical Constraints

2.9.3 Risks to Structural Integrity

2.9.4 Management of Standing Ruins

2.9.5 Management of Cultural Heritage Objects

PART 3 – MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION

3.1. Management Policies

3.1.1 Key Conservation Principles

3.1.2 General Site Management

3.1.3 Conservation and Management of Artefacts

3.1.4 Environmental Protection

3.1.5 Planning and Management of Works

3.2 Management of Human Uses

3.2.1 Visitor Management

3.2.2 Commercial and Non-government Activities

3.3 Public Awareness and Support

3.3.1 Implementation and Consultation

3.3.2 Research

3.3.3 Resources

3.3.4 Interpretation and Promotion

3.4 Implementation Plan

3.4.1 Implementation - Conservation Works

3.4.2 Implementation - Objects and Collections

3.4.3 Implementation - Interpretation

3.4.4 Implementation - Visitor Management

3.4.5 Implementation - Research

3.4.6 Implementation - Record Management

3.5 Monitoring of Implementation

3.6 Review of Management Plan

PART 4 – BIBLIOGRAPHY

4.1 General Publications

4.2 Heritage Management Publications

4.3 Site Management Plans, Reports and Policy Proposals

Appendices

Appendix I       Antarctic Specially Protected Area No 162 Management Plan

Appendix II      Antarctic Specially Managed Area No 3 Management Plan

Appendix III     Key On-site Conservation Works

Appendix IV    National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List Criteria

Appendix V     Location of Objects, Images and Papers in Australia

Appendix VI    Current Datasets on Management of the Site

Appendix VII    Glossary

Executive Summary

The Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is located at Cape Denison, George V Land, Australian Antarctic Territory, some 3000 km south of Hobart, Australia. The site is on Commonwealth land and the Commonwealth of Australia is the owner of the site, its structures and its objects. The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is the agency which manages the site and through which ownership is expressed.

Mawson’s Huts Historic Site covers approximately 130 hectares and is the setting of the buildings, structures and relics of the Main Base of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911-1914, led by Dr (later Sir) Douglas Mawson. The AAE was unique as the only expedition organised, manned and supported predominantly by Australians during the so-called Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration. Cape Denison is one of only six sites remaining from this era, and is the least disturbed of the six.

The cultural heritage significance of the huts and their setting is recognised internationally. They have been inscribed since 1972 on the Antarctic Treaty List of Historic Sites and Monuments, and since 2004 designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area within an Antarctic Specially Managed Area under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

National recognition has come from the huts’ inclusion on the Register of the National Estate in 1980 (now non-statutory), and the Commonwealth Heritage List (2004) and the National Heritage List (2005) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act requires that a management plan is prepared to provide for the protection and management of the National and Commonwealth Heritage values of a listed place.

Under the guidance of the previous plan, the site underwent some major conservation works with the assistance of the Mawson’s Huts Foundation. These works included the over-cladding of the Main Hut, ice removal from the interior, fitting of a frame to help stabilise the Transit Hut, and artefact conservation.

The 2013 plan provides the framework to guide management decisions and on and off site actions to protect and conserve the National Heritage, Commonwealth Heritage and other values of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site. It sets out how the National and Commonwealth Heritage values of the site, as described in the National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List under the EPBC Act, will be managed and protected. It also supports the fulfilment of Australia’s obligations under the environmental protocol to the Antarctic Treaty.

The overarching conservation philosophy in managing the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is to protect and conserve the listed heritage values of the site, while allowing the fabric of the site to continue to represent both a moment in time and the passage of time. The passage of time has affected the fabric of the buildings in differing ways depending on their origin and manufacture. As such, this management plan adopts differing approaches towards the conservation of intact structures and standing ruins at the site.

The main pressures on the National and Commonwealth Heritage values associated with the site stem from environmental factors. Wind, humidity, salt, snow/ice and the associated freeze/thaw action have impacted over time on the listed values. During the life of this plan there will be further monitoring and analysis of these key pressures to inform work plans and the development of the next management plan.

Other management actions under this plan will help to ensure that the values of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site are protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to all generations. This plan also provides for a review of the National and Commonwealth Heritage values associated with Mawson’s Huts and an assessment of the structural integrity of the buildings.

This plan replaces the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2007-12 and will be reviewed within five years.

PART 1 – INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

1.1 Introduction

Situated at Cape Denison, George V Land in the Australian Antarctic Territory, Mawson’s Huts have stood for over one hundred years as the cornerstone of Australia’s Antarctic history. The Historic Site was the first base associated with Australia’s scientific and geographical discovery of Antarctica and consists of buildings, structures and relics from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911-1914, led by Dr (later Sir) Douglas Mawson. The AAE was unique, as the only expedition organised, manned and supported predominantly by Australians during the so-called Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration. Cape Denison is one of only six sites remaining from this era, and is the least disturbed of the six.

Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is on Commonwealth land and the Commonwealth of Australia is the owner of the site, its structures and its objects. The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) is the agency through which ownership is expressed and through which Commonwealth control of the site is exercised. Responsibility for the protection, conservation and management of the site is also vested in the AAD as administrator of the Australian Antarctic Territory on behalf of the Australian Government.

The cultural heritage significance of the huts and their setting is recognised internationally. They have been inscribed since 1972 on the Antarctic Treaty List of Historic Sites and Monuments (HSM) No. 77, and since 2004 designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No 162 within an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) No 3 under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

National recognition has come from the huts’ inclusion on the Register of the National Estate in 1980 (now a non-statutory list), and the Commonwealth Heritage List (2004) and the National Heritage List (2005) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

The EPBC Act requires the Commonwealth to make a written plan to protect and manage the National and Commonwealth Heritage values of a place it owns or controls. This document is the second such plan for the site. This management plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the EPBC Act and associated regulations. The plan is largely structured in accordance with the guidelines stated within Working Together: Managing National Heritage Places (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008), and Working Together: Managing Commonwealth Heritage Places (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008).

1.1.1 Objective of the Plan

The objective of this plan is to guide management decisions and on and off site actions that help identify, protect, conserve, present and transmit the National and Commonwealth Heritage values, and other values, of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site. This is in line with the objective of managing National and Commonwealth Heritage places and is one of the management principles set out in Regulation 10.01E and Schedule 5B, and Regulation 10.03D and Schedule 7B of the Environment

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (EPBC Regulations).

This plan sets out how the National and Commonwealth Heritage values of the site, as described in the National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List under the EPBC Act, will be managed and protected. It also supports the fulfilment of Australia’s obligations under the Antarctic Treaty.

Management actions under this plan, including planning and conducting conservation work, will strive to ensure that the values of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site are protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to future generations.

1.1.2 Public Comments on this Management Plan

On 15 October 2011 an invitation for the public to comment on the review of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2007-12 was advertised, as required under sections 324W and 341X of the EPBC Act. No formal submissions were received during this period. Key stakeholders were consulted in April 2011 during an informal consultation period. Eight submissions on the review of the plan were received.

Under sections 324S and 341S of the EPBC Act, the Environment Minister seeks comment from the public on the replacement of management plans prepared for National and Commonwealth Heritage places, and seeks and considers comments from the Australian Heritage Council about matters raised by the public. A revised draft of the plan was placed on public exhibition and made available for public comment between 21 July 2012 and 24 August 2012. The final version incorporates amendments made in response to the nine submissions received during that period. The draft replacement plan and summary of public submissions were provided to the Australian Heritage Council’s December 2012 meeting. The Council made no additional comments and determined that the management plan addresses the matters prescribed by the EPBC Regulations.

1.1.3 Overarching Conservation Philosophy

The overarching conservation philosophy in managing the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is to protect and conserve the listed heritage values of the site, while allowing the fabric of the site to continue to represent both a moment in time and the passage of time. The passage of time has affected the fabric of the buildings in differing ways depending on their origin and manufacture. As such, this management plan adopts differing approaches towards the conservation of intact structures and standing ruins at the site, as discussed in section 1.1.5. Conservation of the buildings and artefacts should accommodate the original imperfections in design and condition of their elements while demonstrating the effect of decades of exposure to the Antarctic environment.

The design of the huts at Cape Denison is a reflection of the vernacular in Australian domestic architecture of the time. They were never intended to be more than a temporary shelter for a single expedition. Our overall objective is to maintain them in their unperfected state and not reverse or overly interfere with the original condition or structure of the buildings or the associated objects. Future management of the site will be dependent on what is prudent and feasible, taking into consideration the financial and logistical restraints at the time.

1.1.4 Objectives

The Australian Government’s objectives for the site are encapsulated in the conservation principles of this plan, which outline how the National and Commonwealth Heritage values and other values of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site should be identified, protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to all generations. Actions described in the Implementation Plan (Section 3.4) will be measured to assess how these objectives were met when the plan is next reviewed.

At Cape Denison, this involves managing access to and activities at the site, and ensuring that there is an appropriate program of works to conserve, protect and present the heritage values of the historic buildings, associated cultural heritage objects and natural features.

Off-site, this involves documenting and interpreting the site in a manner that encourages Australians to appreciate the experiences and achievements of the members of the AAE, particularly during the years of occupation.

1.1.5 Conservation Principles

The heritage values of Mawson’s Huts Historic Site should be identified, protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to all generations.

Values Identified: The Mawson’s Huts Historic Site has been identified as a National and Commonwealth Heritage place under the EPBC Act.

Heritage values of the site meet key criteria associated with entry onto the National and Commonwealth Heritage list. These values represent both tangible and intangible aspects and are discussed in detail in section 2.5.2.

Over time minor changes to the values have occurred and as a result further refining and researching of these values need to take place.

Protected and Conserved: Significant fabric should be conserved in its original context.

The primary historical reference point is December 1913, when the Australasian Antarctic Expedition abandoned the base.

The 1913 internal configuration of the intact buildings (the Main Hut and Magnetograph House) should be cautiously revealed (by removing ice, subject to conditions) to show the passage of time and a moment in time, and where necessary repaired (by reconstructing fixtures broken by ice).

A secondary reference point is January 1931, for those parts modified by the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE).

The Transit Hut and Absolute Magnetic Hut should be preserved as standing ruins evoking a moment in time and the passage of time. The effects of a century of exposure should not be obscured, unless to prevent structural failure.

Interventions at Cape Denison should do as much as is necessary to conserve the site’s integrity, but otherwise change as little as possible so that the site’s cultural significance is retained.

Objects should be kept in or returned to their documented or likely original context, not arranged for display. Significant objects may be treated to stall deterioration, where possible on site.

Objects in the external scatters should only be removed (either from the site or into a hut) if they are exceptional to interpretation, and removal is the sole practical means of ensuring their survival. No replica objects should be introduced. Objects that are moved should be returned to the site following any conservation works. Where this is not possible or practical, objects should ultimately be placed with a suitable collection agency.

Presented and Transmitted:   Research and conservation partnerships will enrich the interpretation and awareness of the site.

Partnerships between the AAD and heritage experts and philanthropic organisations enhance the efficacy of conservation measures and are in keeping with the 1911-14 model of non-government contributions to Antarctic endeavours.

Collections agencies and others holding AAE objects and related documents should be involved in improving the links between on-site and off-site interpretation of the place.

1.2 Management Framework

Mawson’s Huts and Mawson’s Huts Historic Site are afforded protection under international treaty obligations, Australian legislation and DSEWPaC’s heritage strategy. The AAD’s role is to ensure that this plan is implemented, the heritage values of the site are conserved, and to ensure that the heritage values are interpreted and presented to the Australian community.

1.2.1 International Treaties, Australian Statutory Requirements and Conservation Charters

Antarctic Treaty and Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Australia, as a party to the Antarctic Treaty (1959) and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (1991) (Madrid Protocol), is bound by these instruments’ provisions on cultural and natural heritage.

The first Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (Canberra, 1961) acknowledged the importance of Antarctic historic heritage. It adopted Recommendation I-9, which urged governments interested in Antarctic tombs, buildings or objects of historic interest to consult each other on their condition, restoration or preservation, and to adopt all adequate measures to protect historic sites from damage or destruction. Since 1972, Antarctic Treaty parties have maintained a list of historic sites and monuments. Mawson’s Huts have been included on this list since its inception.

The Madrid Protocol establishes a comprehensive environmental protection regime for Antarctica. All activities in Antarctica must be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the environment. Annexes to the Protocol deal with specific environmental management and protection matters. While no annex applies specifically to historic heritage values, provisions for environmental impact assessment and for area protection and management are relevant.

In addition to its listing as an Antarctic Treaty Historic Site and Monument, the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site was afforded further protection in 2004 when the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting designated the site as ASMA 3 and ASPA 162, and approved management plans for both (see Appendices II and III for current plans).

ASPA and ASMA management plans explain reasons for designation, identify zones (such as the Visual Protection Zone in this site), and set conditions under which permits may be granted, and other conditions applying to access and activities which may be carried out in the area.

ASPA and ASMA management plans are reviewed every 5 years as a minimum. The most recently approved versions are available on the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat website, under ‘Information – List and status of ASPA and ASMA management plans’: Legislation

Antarctic Treaty (Environmental Protection) Act 1980

Australia’s obligations under the Madrid Protocol are given effect by the Antarctic Treaty (Environmental Protection) Act 1980 (ATEP Act). Works parties, tourist visits and other private and Australian Government visitors to Cape Denison are subject to the ATEP Act.

The ATEP Act requires that all Australian activities in the Antarctic undergo environmental impact assessment before they commence. The proponent of the activity must provide a preliminary assessment of the likely environmental impacts of their proposed activity, which is used to assess whether the activity is likely to have (i) more than a minor or transitory impact; (ii) a minor or transitory impact; or (iii) no more than a negligible impact on the environment. The AAD then advises the Minister or delegate of this assessment.

If the Minister (or delegate) considers that the environmental impact is likely to be less than minor or transitory, the Minister grants the proponent a written authorisation to carry on the activity. The Minister may also choose to impose conditions to protect the environment. More detailed assessments are required for activities likely to involve higher levels of impact. For the purposes of the Madrid Protocol and the ATEP Act, the environment includes heritage values.

The ATEP Act (section 19(1) (d)) prohibits entering or carrying on any activity in an ASPA without a permit. An environmental impact assessment of such an activity is a prerequisite for a permit authorising access to the ASPA. In issuing a permit, the Minister is authorised to impose conditions. The AAD administers the granting of permits by delegation from the Minister.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is listed on Australia’s National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists under Part 15 Divisions 1A and 3A of the EPBC Act. The Act requires the responsible government agency, in this case the AAD, to make a plan to protect and manage the National and Commonwealth Heritage values of such places that it owns or controls.

Since the site is listed as both a National and Commonwealth Heritage place, sections 324S and 341S of the EPBC Act requires that the Environment Minister make a plan to protect and manage the listed heritage values of the place. This requirement was first met in 2007 with the making of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2007-12. Such plans are binding on the Commonwealth and Commonwealth agencies (sections 324U and 341V). Sections 324W and 341X require that these plans be reviewed at least once every five years. This current plan is the result of that review.

The EPBC Act (Chapter 2 Part 3 Divisions 1 & 2) prohibits any action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on a ‘matter of national environmental significance’. A National Heritage place is one such matter of national environmental significance. In addition an action on Commonwealth land which is likely to have a significant impact on the environment, or an action taken elsewhere that is likely to have a significant impact on the environment on Commonwealth land, must be referred to DSEWPaC for approval under the Act. Mawson’s Huts are situated on Commonwealth land (sections 27 and 525). ‘Environment’ is defined to include ‘the heritage values of places’ (section 528).

Any action relating to the site that is likely to have a significant impact should be referred to the Minister and may be subject to an environmental impact assessment. The Minister decides whether to approve the action, and what conditions to impose, after considering the assessment.

Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986

The Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 regulates the export of Australia’s significant cultural heritage objects (potentially covering artefacts at or associated with Mawson’s Huts Historic Site).

Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976

The Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 protects historic wrecks and relics in Commonwealth waters, extending from below the low water mark to the edge of the continental shelf.

Conservation Charters

Protection and conservation of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is also guided by the principles in the following documents:

Venice Charter (The International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites)

Burra Charter, Australia ICOMOS 2004

ICOMOS International Wood Committee: Principles for Preservation of Historic Timber Structures

Conservation Plan - A Guide to the Preparation of Conservation Plans for Places of European Cultural Significance (Kerr 2000)

Significance 2.0: a guide to assessing the significance of collections (Russell and Winkworth 2009)

1.2.2 Agency Mechanisms

This management plan contains the primary policies and guidelines for the management of activities at the site. Conservation works at the site for each expedition are subject to individual environmental impact assessments under the ATEP Act. When assessing the impacts of the activities, there is careful consideration of the listed heritage values for the site to ensure their long term conservation and protection.

AAD’s Asset Management System

All built assets that are managed by the AAD are part of a centralised asset management system. The system provides details on maintenance and monitoring of assets and any work plans for a given season.

Other Guidelines, Plans and Programs

Mawson’s Huts Historic Site has a number of other guidelines, plans and programs that assist in meeting the overall conservation objectives for the site. They include a monitoring and maintenance plan and an interpretation plan and are available through the AAD.

The site is visited by citizens of countries other than Australia. To assist with site conservation and protection, visitor guidelines have been developed by Australia and approved by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. The guidelines provide a brief description of the site, maps, landing restrictions and visitor code of conduct. Management plans for the ASPA and ASMA provide greater detail on visitor restrictions and permit conditions (Appendix I and II).

1.2.3 Decision Making Process for Management of the Site

The Minister for the Environment is responsible for provision of advice on and approval of activities at the site, under the ATEP and EPBC Acts. The decision to authorise an activity under the ATEP Act is currently delegated to the AAD Director, the manager of the AAD’s Strategies Branch and the manager of the AAD’s Territories, Environment and Treaties (TET) Section.

The Australian Heritage Council advises the Minister on identification, assessment, conservation and monitoring of heritage, and in particular provides comment to the Minister on plans of management for listed sites.

The AAD Director is responsible for heritage management policy and makes major decisions on the management of the site within the context of the direction provided by protected area and heritage management plans, the DSEWPaC heritage strategy, and with advice from the Heritage and Wildlife Division.

The AAD consults registered stakeholders and the Heritage and Wildlife Division when preparing works plans or reviewing draft works plans that have been submitted for its consideration. The AAD addresses their feedback when recommending which elements of the proposed works should be prioritised and authorised and which conditions should be applied to the authorisation, or when forwarding its comments to the Heritage and Wildlife Division (should a referral under the EPBC Act be required).

1.2.4 Collaborative Partnerships

The AAD has a long-standing collaborative partnership with the Mawson’s Huts Foundation (a non-government organisation) to assist with the conservation and management of the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site. Since 1996, the AAD has worked with the Foundation on ten expeditions to Cape Denison to undertake conservation works, environmental monitoring and maintenance. These expeditions have played a major role in communicating, conserving and protecting the listed values of the site. In discharging its responsibility to set work programs and direct future activities at and in relation to the site, the AAD will continue to explore opportunities for further such collaborations.

PART 2 – SITE DESCRIPTION AND HERITAGE VALUES

2.1 Location

The Mawson’s Huts Historic Site is located at Cape Denison, George V Land, Australian Antarctic Territory. Cape Denison, approximately 130 hectares, is a 1.5 km-wide peninsula projecting into the centre of Commonwealth Bay, a 60 km-wide stretch of coast some 3000 km south of Hobart, Australia.

The boundaries of the site are specified more precisely in the site’s entry on the National Heritage List than in the Commonwealth Heritage List entry. In the life of this plan, all boundaries referring to the site should be aligned with the boundaries given in the National Heritage List, namely: a line commencing at the intersection of the coastline and latitude 67°00’47”S at Land’s End (approximately 67°00’47”S, 142°39’28”E), then northerly via the low water mark (LWM) to the intersection of the coastline with latitude 67°00’21”S (approximately 67°00’21”S, 142°39’18”E), then north-easterly via a straight line to the intersection of the eastern coastline of Boat Harbour with latitude 67°00’20”S (approximately 67°00’20”S, 142°39’27”E), then northerly and south-easterly via the LWM to its intersection with latitude 67°00’47”S at John O’Groats (approximately 67°00’47”S, 142°41’27”E), then westerly via a straight line to the point of commencement.

The Commonwealth Heritage place boundaries are: a line commencing at the most southerly point of a bay about 120 m northeast of Magnetograph House then running southerly along the ridgeline between Long and Alga Lakes to 40 m ASL, then westerly at that altitude to Land’s End, then northerly and easterly via the coastline to the commencement point. Since this is less precise, and in fact covers a smaller part of Cape Denison than the National Heritage place boundaries, this plan should be read as covering the larger (National Heritage) area.

The historic site consists of four huts, memorials, plaques and scattered relics. The Main Hut (originally two separate huts) is in the centre of the valley. The Transit Hut is to the northeast and the Magnetograph House and Absolute Magnetic Hut are on the northern end of the eastern ridge. There is also a memorial cross and plaque on the summit of Azimuth Hill, masts from the wireless station to the north and south of Main Hut, various survey and sighting marks within the valley and the ridges, and meteorological instruments on a rock shelf between the Main Hut and Transit Hut and on the eastern ridge on a knoll known as Proclamation Hill (the site of the proclamation pole and plaque). There are also seal and penguin meat caches and significant artefact scatters within the Historic Site area. From the Main Hut, the Transit Hut (67°00’30”S, 142°39’42”E) is 40 m northeast; the Magnetograph House (67°00’21”S, 142°39’37”E) is approximately 310 m north-northeast; and the Absolute Magnetic Hut (67°00’23”S, 142°39’48”E) is about 275 m northeast. On the west ridge of Main Valley is the memorial cross of 1913, and on a ridge to the southeast is Proclamation Hill, marking the formal possession of George V Land proclaimed in 1931.

The ASMA management plan establishes a Visual Protection Zone containing the historic structures and designed to exclude new structures to preserve the values of the site.

Mawson’s Main Hut (67º00’31”S, 142º39’39”E) was erected as close as was practicable to the landing point for supplies – about 65 m southeast of Boat Harbour.

2.2 Physical Features

2.2.1 Cape Denison Landscape

Cape Denison is a rugged, 1.5 km wide tongue of ice, snow, rock and moraine projecting into Commonwealth Bay from the steeply rising ice cap of continental Antarctica. The ice cliffs at either end of the Cape (Land’s End and John O’Groats) and the sea hemming the northern shore form a natural sense of enclosure.  The natural features of Cape Denison were first described and recorded by the AAE.

On approach to Cape Denison, the massive Antarctic ice cap clearly dominates the skyline and is visible up and down Commonwealth Bay, terminating in huge ice cliffs. These cliffs can calve into the sea, forming icebergs.

The topography is defined by a series of four rocky ridges running south-southeast to north-northwest, and three valleys filled with ice, snow and glacial moraine. The largest, most westerly valley contains the four AAE huts. At the seaward end of this valley is Boat Harbour, a 400 m long indent in the coast.

The landscape is strewn with glacial deposits. Large boulder fields are coloured with lichen, the only known flora on Cape Denison. There are six melt water lakes associated with glacial action. The site is however renowned for its wind.

Wind is the dominant feature that has shaped occupation of this place, and continues to define the landscape. The wind makes it different from most other Antarctic landscapes, and sets it apart from the sites of other Heroic Era huts. Sun, cloud and seasonal changes in daylight and darkness are largely irrelevant compared to the cycle of katabatic winds that creates an annual average daily maximum wind speed of 71 km per hour. Frequent blizzards and gusts exceed 100 km per hour: in 1913 the wind was recorded at 143 km per hour for twelve continuous hours (Godden Mackay Logan 2001).

Humans perceive this wind as a constant force (rather than the perception of eddies and gusts usually associated with winds). This force, always from the south, carries huge amounts of drift snow and ice before it, often creating blizzards, and whips the sea into a chop topped with fierce spume only metres from the shore. Surface temperatures, not including the wind chill factor, generally range from -21° and lower in winter, to -3° in summer, with occasional days approaching zero or above

The area contains many geological features that are important for the understanding of the Gondwana break-up 55 million years ago, as it was roughly opposite what is now the Gawler Craton in South Australia. The area can be divided into a ‘lower zone of relatively polished rock and a higher zone of relatively unpolished rock’. Glacial plucking is common and generates a roches moutonnee effect with gentler, smoother surfaces towards the ice source and a rougher, more plucked downslope area. There are abundant glacial erratics and striated surfaces.

The ‘upper’ moraine, close to the ice edge and containing a great diversity of rocks, many unknown in outcrop in the area, is a genuine moraine. Boulders are more angular and sorting less obvious than in the ‘lower’ moraine. The rocks, including little studied red sandstone and crystalline limestone, from which no fossils have been recovered, may provide an insight into the rocks that underlie the ice of this part of Antarctica.

The ‘lower’ moraine can extend up to 36 m above sea level and is dominated by local rocks. This feature may be a result of ‘ice push’ from the sea rather than a genuine glacial moraine. The boulders are more rounded and sorted to some extent into bands where grain size is more constant. This material shows some signs of having been water worn and includes some lithified beach sand with foraminifera and other organic remains.

Valleys and lakes are (with one exception) oriented parallel to the foliation of the basement rocks. The basement of the Cape Denison area consists mainly of partly migmatised, massive felsic orthogneiss intruded at about 2350 million years ago into an older metamorphosed sequence, originally of mudstone, perhaps Archaean in age. This entire sequence was intruded, probably at about 2350 million years ago, by mafic dykes which were metamorphosed at about the same time.

2.2.2 Cape Denison Flora and Fauna

From November, species breeding at or near the site include over 18 000 pairs of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), Wilson’s storm petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea) and the south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki). Other species sighted in the area include the Cape petrel (Daption capense), Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica), southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) and emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri). Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii), southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) have been recorded as hauling out and, in the case of elephant seals, moulting at Cape Denison.

The only flora evident at the site are thirteen lichen species, identified by the AAE and BANZARE and distributed on boulders and other moraines, and non-marine algae associated with thirteen small glacial lakes, generally parallel to the foliation of the basement rocks and melt streams which flow in summer.

2.2.3 Cultural Features on Cape Denison

Godden Mackay Logan (2001) reported that Cape Denison provides evidence of human endeavour from all four phases of occupation: the original AAE expedition (January 1912 to December 1913), the overnight BANZARE visit to the site (January 1931), the short and sporadic visits by scientific parties (1950 - 1967) and finally the more planned and prolonged expeditions to the site, primarily for conservation, since 1974.

Known AAE fabric (1912-1913)

•Main Hut (intact with living section and workshop partially ice-filled, and verandahs 90% ice-filled)

•Magnetograph House (intact and ice-free)

•Absolute Magnetic Hut (standing ruin with no roof)

•Transit Hut (standing ruin with no roof)

•puff-anemometer pole (later known as BANZARE proclamation pole) on Anemometer Hill

•timber alignment posts for magnetic observations (east and west [below surface]); bench mark to the east of the Main Hut; eleven survey marks east of Main Valley; transit survey posts (timber pillar in Transit Hut and north mark north of Transit Hut); eastern mark (30 m east of Magnetograph Hut marking the eastern boundary of the base survey area)

•two fallen wireless masts and associated chains and aerial wire and insulators

•memorial cross (and replica plaque 1986) on Azimuth Hill

•artefact groups associated with Main Hut (fourteen groups)

•seal and penguin meat caches

•scattered artefacts, including remnants of the air tractor and geological sampling sites

BANZARE fabric (1931)

•proclamation flag pole (AAE puff-anemometer mast) and replica canister attached to pole, replica plaque (1986) and copy of proclamation (1978) on Anemometer Hill

Scientific party fabric (c1950–1967)

•log book notes left by visiting parties in the Magnetograph House.

Conservation expeditions (1974 to present)

•Granholm Hut (1978) on the west side of Main Valley

•interpretive/information plaque near the Main Hut (1978)

•wind scatter test frames for objects near Main Hut (1985)

•automatic weather station (AWS) established by the US (and associated timber debris) on Anemometer Hill (on the sub-bridge west of the BANZARE proclamation area) (1990)

•fabric associated with repair work on and monitoring of the Main Hut (1974–present)

•fabric associated with conservation work: Magnetograph House, Absolute Magnetic Hut, Transit Hut, and the memorial cross arm bracket (1998)

•works party base: Sørensen Hut (1986, with two 1998 extensions) and Apple Hut, 500 m west of Main Hut

•over cladding Main Hut roof (2006-07)

•over cladding southwest corner, exterior wall of Main Hut (2009-10)

•stabilisation portal frame added to Transit Hut (2011)

•centenary commemorative plaque and time capsule (below surface) on Anemometer Hill (2012)

2.2.4 Fabric Description

Main Hut

The Main Hut consists of two prefabricated Oregon-framed timber huts with foundations set in 50 t of loose rocks. Structural timbers are bolted together with tongue-and-groove Baltic pine used for internal and external cladding. A 1.5 m wide verandah surrounds the structure on three sides.

The living section, prefabricated by George Hudson & Son (Sydney), is 7.3 x 7.3 m with a pyramid shaped roof supported in the centre by four 100 mm by 100 mm posts. There are four skylights, all with glass and timber covers which can be opened. Bunks are arranged in two tiers around the walls, leaving a central living space for the stove and dining table. There are two separate rooms: Mawson’s cubicle and Hurley’s small dark room.

There is no direct external access to the living section. Entry is via the workshop attached to the northern side. The 5.5 x 4.9 m workshop, prefabricated by Messrs Anthony (Melbourne), has a hipped roof and two skylights. The western verandah contains access to the cellar and roof as well as a latrine.

Living room - Internal Features

Mawson's Cubicle

A small (approximately 2.1 x 2.4 m) room was provided for Mawson centrally on the south side of the hut. The walls were of a single lining on a stud frame, the studs being exposed inside the room. Fittings inside the cubicle include a bunk along the south wall, a series of shelves on the west wall adjacent to the doors, shelves to the north and south walls and a table and chair. Decorative prints left behind by Mawson can also be seen in the cubicle.

Darkroom

An approximately 1.2 x 1.2 m darkroom is located in the northwest corner of the hut. The walls were double lined on a stud frame fitted with a door, 610 mm wide. The room was fitted with a waste disposal chute through the northern wall, a bench along the west wall and numerous shelves. The floor is littered with artefacts amongst detritus which has been worn away near the door entrance. Written on the inside wall on the left, Frank Hurley inscribed ‘near enough is not good enough’. Shelves inside the darkroom still carry chemicals used by Hurley.

Bunks

Bunks were erected for the expedition members along the east, south and west walls. Each bunk was generally framed up using posts at each end, plates fixed to the wall, an outer facing board with an inner plate. Boarding spanned from plate to plate. Each bunk had a lower and upper berth. Dividing partitions of boarding fixed to the posts and battens on the wall separated the bunks. The bunks are inscribed with the initials of the expeditioners that occupied them. Herbert Murphy’s bunk was removed in 1913 on the northern wall of the living quarters when the radio was moved from the workshop. Several bunks were modified in the second year to create storage areas.

Acetylene Plant

Lighting was provided by an acetylene system consisting of an acetylene carbide plant mounted above a small platform fixed to the northeast queen post above head height.

Shelving and Benches

Numerous shelves were erected throughout the hut. Most shelves appear to consist of tongue and grooved boards and off cuts of timber supported on metal brackets of various sizes and design. Three shelves were erected on the north wall for the storage of cooking and eating utensils and food stuffs. Three shelves erected on the outside of the north wall of Mawson’s cubicle were used for the library. A bench constructed from tongue and grooved boarding and framing timber was erected for cooking items adjacent to the stove. These shelves still have a wide variety of artefacts on them. Some shelving has collapsed under the weight of snow and ice.

Insulation

The only reference to insulation is that recorded by Mawson when he describes the use of ‘two courses of tarred paper’ in the roof and walls to make them extra wind proof. The extent of the tarred paper is unknown however inspections have confirmed tarred paper visible in the roof through gaps in the boards. The floor ice contains many small fragments of the tarred paper. Straw type insulation (originally used as packing material) has been found adjacent to the door to the living room, and gaps in the boards in combination with strips of tar paper.

Stove and Chimney

A large stove described by Mawson as an anthracite coal cooking range was installed in the

northwest corner. The stove was used for cooking and provided warmth for the hut. A chimney of approximately 15 cm diameter penetrated the roof above. The chimney was fitted with a cowl and was supported by three wire stays fixed to the roof. The penetration was over flashed. Asbestos cement sheeting backs the stove along the external wall of the darkroom.

The chimney collapsed between 1977 and 1978. External evidence of the chimney was obscured with the over-cladding of the roof in 2006-07.

Skylights

Skylights were provided in each section of the roof to provide light to the interior of the hut. Each skylight was constructed of appropriate framing, three panels of 2.9 mm glass set into a timber glazing system using putty and glazing pins. Each skylight was then fitted with a hinged cover. Dimensions of each skylight varied. All the original skylights and covers have subsequently been repaired to prevent snow and ice ingress. The glass has been replaced and the covers are a mixture of replica parts and repaired originals.

Doors

There are three doors inside the Main Hut which are part of the original fabric. These include the door into the workshop from the porch, and the door between the workshop and living room and the darkroom door.

Magnetograph House

The Magnetograph House is an Oregon frame timber hut, prefabricated by Risby Brothers (Hobart) and erected in March 1912. Tongue-and-groove Baltic pine boards are used for internal and external cladding, and the walls are reinforced by approximately 30 t of rock. Fastidious steps were taken to make the building impervious to wind. Sheets of tarred builders paper were installed under each timber lining and a final continuous tarred paper covering was placed over the inside wall. The whole of the framework was secured by means of copper spikes and bolts. A shortage of small copper nails necessitated the use of some iron nails to fasten the lining but not within 6’ of the instruments. The building was insulated with some twenty sheep skins on the roof and windward side. The plan is rectangular – 5.5 x 2 m. The shallow-pitched skillion roof has a copper ventilator. There is an inner and outer porch with three door sets. The external door is a double ‘stable’ ship’s door taken from the Clyde shipwrecked at Macquarie Island. The internal door is inscribed with a description on how to enter and exit the building.

Absolute Magnetic Hut

The Absolute Magnetic Hut, erected in February 1912, is a standing ruin consisting of a complete south wall, portions of the east wall, and the framing of the north and west walls. The frame is constructed of leftover Oregon timber with timber boarding and tarred builders’ paper lining and is fastened entirely with copper spikes and bolts. The plan is 1.8 m square, sited on a rock shelf and originally anchored to the ground. The skillion roof was removed by BANZARE expeditioners in January 1931.

Transit Hut

The Transit Hut is a roofless stabilised ruin of what was originally known as the Astronomical Observatory, built on a manually constructed stone platform in May 1913 to house a theodolite to take astronomical observations to determine the latitude and longitude of Cape Denison. These coordinates were painted on the plinth in the centre of the hut.

The Oregon timber frame braced by metal shelf brackets was lined with packing case timber and clad in sheepskin and canvas. There is a partial lining of asbestos cement sheeting. The structure had one door in the northeast corner. A 20” transit telescope loaned to the expedition by the Melbourne Observatory was housed on a 255 mm square wood pillar set into the rocks. The telescope, in conjunction with wireless time signals fixed their longitude very accurately. An inscription on the pillar describes detail of the longitude of the location. The hut incorporates meridional slots in the roof and tops of the north and south walls.

Memorial Cross and Plaque

The memorial cross to Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz, built by Francis Bickerton, was erected on Azimuth Hill, to the northwest of the Main Hut, in November 1913. The upright and cross bar were fabricated from remnant timber - apparently from the radio masts - of approximately 170 mm by 170 mm. The upright projects 3.4 m above the surrounding rocks and is capped by a 65 mm wide metal collar. The crossbar is 2.2 m long with a 65 mm wide collar at each end. The crossbar is fixed to the upright 2.2 m above the rocks (Godden Mackay Logan 2001).

The crossbar has blown off numerous times. It was re-attached in 1931 by BANZARE, in 1951 by a French overland expedition from Dumont d’Urville, in 1978 by ANARE and a fourth time by the AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation expedition in 1997-98. A plaque attached to the cross, probably made of wood from the dining table, was inscribed by Francis Hodgeman: ‘Erected to commemorate the supreme sacrifice made by Lieut. B.E.S. Ninnis, R.F. and Dr. X. Mertz in the cause of science A.A.E. 1913 A.J. Hodgeman’. The plaque currently in place is a replica. The original was removed to Australia in 1977, returned to the site in 1978, removed again in 1985 and replaced by a reconstruction in 1986.

Proclamation Pole and Plaque

A small plaque and proclamation were affixed to the mast of the AAE anemometer station during the BANZARE territorial claim ceremony in 1931, on what was thereafter known as Proclamation Hill. The original proclamation was removed to Australia in 1977 and replaced with a replica proclamation and replica bronze cylinder in 1978. The original plaque was removed in 1977, returned inside a transparent plastic and metal frame in 1978, removed in 1985 and replaced with a replica in 1986.

Alignment and Survey Marks

The terrestrial magnetism program used five stations and marks to enable observations. Two of the stations, the Absolute Magnetic Hut and the Magnetograph Hut, have been described above. The main azimuth mark (west mark) consists of a 7.6 x 5.1 cm timber, about 1.22 m long, around which a cairn of stones has been constructed. It is located on top of what is now known as Azimuth Ridge, approximately 386 m west of the Absolute Magnetic Hut.

Located about 44 m to the east of the Absolute Magnetic Hut is the dip-circle station. This mark consists of a pointed piece of 7.6 x 5.1 cm timber with a hole bored through it and built around with a stone cairn. The fifth station, in an ice cave approximately 1173 m away, a few degrees east of south of the Absolute Magnetic Hut, no longer exists.

Cultural Heritage Objects

Artefacts, and artefact scatters relating to the AAE, have been observed across Cape Denison and on the plateau. Major concentrations of artefacts occur around the huts, especially the Main Hut. The main concentration of external artefacts at Cape Denison is to the north of the Main Hut. Mawson himself described the plume of discarded items from the AAE domestic quarters that extended to the north of the Hut. The artefact scatter does not appear to represent just a rubbish tip. Homogeneous collections of material, such as wood, suggest that it was used as a source of material for recycling. Other artefacts are present, such as the remains of clothing, food, refuse and numerous portions of seals with cut marks on their bones.

There are a number of other artefact scatters in the Hut Valley area. Seven individual or groups of artefacts have been recorded in the area to the east of Hut Valley, extending as far as John O'Groats. They include seal and penguin meat caches, bamboo poles, pieces of copper wire, survey markers and pieces of wood. Individual artefacts are scattered across the whole of Cape Denison.

More than twenty years of archaeological investigations in the Main Hut have recorded more than 1700 items including food tins and foodstuffs, bottles, photographic plates, reference books, newspapers, novels, notices, pictures, chemicals and developing paper.

Post-BANZARE Fabric

Granholm Hut (67°00’29”S, 142°39’26”E), a temporary shelter and workshop established by the 1978 ANARE party 160 m northwest of the Main Hut, sits within the visual protection zone of the historic site. It has been retained as an emergency refuge and a convenient place to store conservation tools and equipment. The hut has been painted to blend into the rocky landscape to lessen its visual impact on the site.

Sitting outside the visual protection zone 400 m east of the Main Hut, Sørensen Hut (67°00’29”S, 142°40’12”E) is the main temporary shelter for conservation works parties and was built by the AAD in 1986 as a single room with an entry lobby. It was expanded in 1997/98 with the addition of an office section at its southern end and an externally accessed toilet at the northern end. Following a further expansion in 2009/10, the hut now contains a conservation laboratory and sleeping, dining and office facilities.

Adjacent to Sørensen Hut is an expanded ‘Apple Hut’ which serves as accommodation.  It was brought to the site by Project Blizzard in 1984, and moved from the Granholm Hut vicinity by the AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation in 1997/98. A nearby wooden platform is used for pitching tents.

Since 1990 an automatic weather station (67°00’33”S, 142°39’51”E) on a rise near Round Lake and approximately 150 m southeast of the Main Hut has collected meteorological data. It is the property of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was replaced in 2011.

In 2007/08, a joint Australian-French project deployed two tide gauges in Boat Harbour to measure the height of the sea. This was the first time the sea level had been properly recorded since 1912. The Australian tide gauge was removed in 2009.

Centenary Time Capsule and Plaque

A time capsule was installed on 16 January 2012 at the base of the proclamation pole to commemorate the centenary of the AAE. It is to be opened in 2112. The capsule contains a message from the Australian Prime Minister and messages from Australian students who offered their vision of Antarctica in another hundred years. A plaque to commemorate this event was laid at the base of the proclamation pole next to the time capsule.

2.3 Historical Context

An Australasian Expedition

The late nineteenth century saw the beginning of the Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration. Interest in continental exploration and scientific study was renewed by European nationalism. From 1897 to 1917, teams from Britain, Norway, Germany, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Scotland and Japan carried out fifteen land-based expeditions – some in quest of the South Geographic and South Magnetic Pole; others to explore, and collect magnetic, meteorological, geological and biological data and samples. The expeditions captured the public imagination and made many explorers national heroes for their bravery, physical strength and endurance.

For the first time the expedition teams built shelters and lived on the Antarctic continent for extended periods. Of the era’s nine prefabricated huts, six survive – Carsten Borchgrevink’s Southern Cross hut, Cape Adare (Norway/UK, 1899); Robert Scott’s Discovery hut, Ross Island (UK, 1901); Otto Nordenskjöld’s Antarctic hut, Snow Hill (Sweden, 1901); Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod Cape Royds hut, Ross Island (UK, 1908); Robert Scott’s Terra Nova Cape Evans hut, Ross Island (UK, 1911); and Mawson’s Aurora huts, Cape Denison.

The Australian geologist Douglas Mawson first voyaged to the Antarctic in 1907 as part of Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition, aboard the Nimrod. He was part of a three-man team that reached the South Magnetic Pole and climbed Mount Erebus. Having returned to Adelaide as a local hero, in 1910 he began to plan a second southern journey. Rather than joining Scott’s Terra Nova party in the quest for the South Pole, he envisaged a locally-planned expedition heavily focused on geology and other sciences.

Mawson intended that his AAE would be a scientific quest. It included magnetic charting for navigational purposes, geological and biological studies, and the establishment of a wireless weather station. It also targeted the area directly south of Australia, which was of both scientific and national interest. However, it may well have been the association with heroic adventure that persuaded Australian and multinational companies to donate supplies – from stationery to fuel, medicines to cigarettes, tinned food to photographic plates, soap to sleeping bags. Three well provisioned bases were to be established in Antarctica and another on Macquarie Island to transmit news back to Hobart by wireless telegraph.

On 2 December 1911, twenty-nine year-old Dr Douglas Mawson, leading a team of thirty men and accompanied by a professional crew of sailors, departed Hobart on the 50 m steam yacht Aurora, built in Dundee in the 1870s for Newfoundland whaling and sealing. The 600 t of cargo included numerous cases of supplies, timber for hut building, and fifty Greenland dogs which had been on board since Cardiff. Some supplies and passengers were carried for the first leg of the journey by the Toroa, which departed five days later. Many of the men were young graduates from Australian universities. The average age was approximately twenty-six. Four were New Zealanders, three were British and one was Swiss. The other twenty-two were Australian residents. Three of the leaders (Mawson, Wild and Davis) were veterans of other Antarctic voyages. At least two others had applied for expeditions and been rejected (Ninnis was not selected by Scott, and Murphy was rejected by Shackleton).

Londoner John King Davis, like Mawson a veteran of Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition, was deputy commander of the expedition and captain of the Aurora. The first stop was on 11 December 1911 at Macquarie Island (54˚30’S, 158˚57’E). The five-man party they left behind, led by meteorologist George Ainsworth, was to establish a wireless relay station and scientific base on the island which until then had been largely the domain of sealing gangs and commercial penguin oil harvesters. The station was erected on the northern end on a narrow spit of land between Hasselborough Bay and Buckles Bay. Radio contact was established with passing ships in the first months, and with New Zealand and Hobart by the time winter was approaching. A working link to Cape Denison would prove more challenging. It was not fully operational until 1913, when the party remained on the island for an unscheduled second year.

The Aurora departed Macquarie Island on 23 December 1911 and arrived at Cape Denison on 8 January 1912. On the voyage from Macquarie Island to the continent Mawson abandoned the idea of a third base in the western Ross Sea region following news of Scott’s decision to establish a base there. Poor prevailing weather conditions also factored into his decision. The larger than planned Main Base at Cape Denison combined the huts intended for two separate bases, and was occupied by eighteen men – thirteen Australians, two New Zealanders, two Britons and a Swiss.

The Aurora carried an eight-man party of seven Australians led by Frank Wild (a British veteran of both Scott’s and Shackleton’s expeditions), more than 2000 km to the west, to establish the Western Base known as ‘the Grottoes’. The Western Base was built on the Shackleton Ice Shelf in Queen Mary Land, a region first visited by the 1901-1903 German South Polar (Gauss) expedition under Erich von Drygalski. The site, which was used only for a year, has been little visited since it was occupied. The hut, erected on floating ice 27 km from land, is presumed to have disappeared into the sea with the inevitable calving of the ice shelf.

The first year: building and sledging

Mawson had Alfred Hodgeman, who would serve as the Main Base’s cartographer, design the accommodation huts before leaving Australia. Based on Mawson’s knowledge from the Nimrod expedition, the designs incorporated the need for wind resistance and insulation from the cold, with the convenience of being portable and straightforward to erect. The final design was a pyramid on a square base. The prefabricated huts were obtained from building companies in four Australian states. Two pyramid huts, one small hip-roofed hut and another smaller hut were acquired.

The chosen site for the Main Hut that would have to serve as living quarters, workshop, storeroom and kennels, was a level section of rocky ground. The Main Hut was quickly erected, to minimise the time its eventual occupants had to sleep in tents. The completion of the hut was an opportune time to unfurl the Union Jack, upon which Mawson claimed possession of the area for the British Empire. He would repeat this ceremony in other places, and eventually named the sectors George V Land and Queen Mary Land, and Wild would perform a similar ceremony at the end of the year at the Western Base. While the claims were not formally commissioned or acted upon by the British government, they helped to lay the foundation of the formal claim two decades on, which established the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The Main Hut was a combination of a pyramid hut that, with the change of plan, would have to accommodate eighteen men, and a small hip-roofed hut which was originally intended as the third base but instead was attached and used as a workshop. It was reinforced by stacked boxes of stores on the three sides facing the prevailing weather. On the west side of the hut a makeshift hangar was annexed, made from packing cases. In the first two months, drift snow buried the hut to its roof, and its occupants improvised caulking to keep the tiny ice particles at bay, by plugging gaps between boards with rags, hessian and socks.

The Magnetograph House was erected in March 1912 on a cleared site approximately 400 m northeast of the Main Hut, where the party had to use explosives to clear and flatten the site. Their first attempt was blown over by strong winds. Large rocks were moved to line the walls, and sheepskins and hessian attached to the roof. Some of the materials (copper nails and the door) were salvaged from the Clyde, whose shipwrecked crew the Aurora had met on Macquarie Island. It was used to house the magnetograph equipment used by Eric Webb to measure variations in the South Magnetic Pole.

The Absolute Magnetic Hut – used in association with, and as a reference point for, observations made in the Magnetograph House – was the other main structure achieved in 1912. This building, made from scraps of timber and anchored to the rock to prevent it from being blown away, was erected 52 m south of the Magnetograph House.

Anticipating being confined indoors throughout winter, in the early months the Main Base party killed numerous seals and penguins and stockpiled the meat for both dog and human consumption. While sledging to explore the unknown territory was an immediate priority, the first experimental journeys in February 1912 found most of the dogs to be in poor condition after the voyage, and major journeys were put off until after winter. The dogs sheltered in the eastern verandah of the workshop.

To civilise daily life, there was a good library for private and public reading, and gramophone records to enliven the evenings. Night watchman duty rotated, and with it came the rare opportunity of a bath (the men washed every eighteen days). In the tradition of polar quests, novice cooks experimented on tinned foods and locally slaughtered wildlife, with varying results, and diversions from board games to plays were encouraged.

Personal space was at a premium. The men made idiosyncratic alterations to their modest personal space which was limited to a bunk for all but Mawson; the commander, or ‘the Dux’, had his own cubicle. Many posted pictures on walls and marked their initials on their bunks. The convivial young group of Mertz, Ninnis, Bickerton and Madigan – a Swiss, two Britons and an Australian – occupied bunks in the southeast corner of the living section, ‘Hyde Park Corner’. In the small dark room in the northwest corner, Hurley developed short plays as well as his famous photographs.

Routine scientific observations were made regardless of the conditions. Mawson viewed regular magnetic and meteorological observations as imperative in order to ensure that his expedition obtained a comprehensive record and therefore made a genuine contribution to scientific knowledge. Complete weather observations, made every six hours, filled well over a thousand pages of note books. The men also dispatched messages in bottles. The notes asked the finder to return them to the Secretary of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in Sydney, with a note of the time and place at which it was found, in order to learn something of the Southern Ocean currents.

By August, field work became possible when a sub-surface sledging depot known as Aladdin’s Cave was established 8 km inland from Cape Denison. Mawson and his teams began making inland sledging trips to chart the area and make scientific observations, as did Wild in the vicinity of his Western Base. Some used dogs, but most of the major journeys were man-hauled. All proceeded into the unknown, and required both navigational skills and physical and mental strength. They faced invisible hazards in the unpredictable icescape, and other dangers arising from their equipment (one party nearly succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while cooking in an unventilated dugout).

There were five major expeditions from the Main Base:

Southern Party: Bage, Webb and Hurley, observing magnetic conditions, appear to have reached within 80 km of the South Magnetic Pole, despite bad weather. They were helped by a southern supporting party (Murphy, Hunter, Laseron).

Western Party: Bickerton, Hodgeman and Whetter investigated the coastal regions to the west of Cape Denison. The team travelled 254 km from Cape Denison. They sighted the first-known Antarctic meteorite.

Near-Eastern Party: Stillwell, Close and Hodgeman (later replaced by Laseron) explored and charted the coast from Cape Denison to the Mertz Glacier.

Eastern Coastal Party: Madigan, McLean and Correll investigated the coast to the east of the Mertz Glacier. They reached Horn Bluff, a large cliff 434 km from the Main Base.

Far Eastern Party: On 10 November 1912 Mawson took the two dog handlers, Mertz and Ninnis, eighteen dogs and three sledges, to explore and map the far east coast, expecting to return by mid-January. This became a long and tragic journey which only Mawson survived. The story of his survival elevated Mawson in the public esteem.

On 14 December Ninnis fell into a crevasse and was never seen again. On the return journey Mawson lacked the provisions that had been carried on Ninnis’ sledge. The rations ran out, and the dogs died of exhaustion or were killed for food. Mertz fell ill - from toxins, food deprivation or sheer stress - and had to be towed on a sledge until he too died, and was buried by Mawson on 8 January 1913.

Mawson then cut his sled in half, and while starving, dehydrated, frostbitten and at times delirious marched 160 km to Cape Denison alone, kept alive towards the end by a depot of provisions left by a rescue party. He was delayed again at the next food depot, being trapped for an entire week by poor weather in Aladdin’s Cave, barely a day’s march from his goal.

Mawson arrived back utterly exhausted on 8 February 1913. After three months away from the Main Base, including the tortuous solo trek, he arrived just hours after the departure of the Aurora, which was immediately contacted by the volunteers who had elected to remain behind and continue the search. However, due to the risks associated with returning, Captain Davis decided to leave Mawson and a six man team – Bickerton, Madigan, Bage, Hodgeman, McLean, and Jeffryes – for another year in Antarctica. The bare essentials accompanying Mawson were a doctor turned biologist, two engineers, a cartographer, magnetician and wireless operator.

There were two major expeditions from the Western Base, leaving just one man (Moyes, the meteorologist) to look after the Grottoes for nine weeks of ‘immense’ silence, while he hoped for the safe return of his comrades:

Western expedition to Gaussberg: Jones, Hoadley and Dovers crossed the Helen Glacier and islands adjacent to Haswell Island. This party climbed Gaussberg (370 m) and charted the coastline.

Eastern Expedition to Denman Glacier: Wild, Watson, Harrisson and Kennedy charted 650 km of coast (Bay of Winds, Delay Point, Redi Glacier, and Cape Gerlache) before meeting the Aurora in February 1913.

The unplanned second year

Captain Davis’s decision not to retrieve Mawson, due to the impossibility of entering Boat Harbour and the need to retrieve the party from the Western Base, stretched the AAE into an unplanned second year.

Mawson had lost most of his hair, and his feet were badly damaged. The doctor, McLean, nursed him back to health, and the small party set out to improve the general living conditions in the Main Hut which now housed seven rather than eighteen men. With little in the way of planned activities to complete, the second year was a contrast to the very active first year, and most accounts of the expedition pay it scant attention.

Food was moved inside, the wireless was transferred to the living section and new shelves were constructed. The Aurora had delivered a new set of dogs, formerly used by Amundsen and which proved worthy replacements of the original teams that had been lost. The party continued on a smaller scale their study of geology and biology, and their collection of magnetic and meteorological data.

In May 1913 the Transit Hut was erected to house a twenty-inch transit telescope, and with this, in conjunction with wireless signals from the Melbourne Observatory, Webb and Bage fixed Cape Denison’s longitude.

The strain of isolation, boredom and grief for the two lost comrades and the narrowly missed chance to return home took its toll on the remaining party. Mawson described it as a dreary and difficult time. Shortly after midwinter Jeffryes declared he was resigning his post, his mental illness requiring constant medical observation from McLean. This left Bickerton to teach himself Morse code and run the radio. The expedition’s typewriter was pressed into regular service to draft scientific reports, and Mawson spent the long winter dealing with difficult personalities, preparing biological specimens, cultivating yeast to make bread, and compiling the expedition account which would become The Home of the Blizzard. McLean and Mawson produced the expedition’s newspaper, The Adelie Blizzard.

The most pressing maintenance task was the wireless. Although two-way communication had been established in February, bad weather in May broke the upper mast. The weather was not sufficiently calm to repair the structure and resume communications until August.

In November 1913, having received news that the Aurora was headed south, the party gathered the remaining provisions they thought worthy of returning to the ship, and readied themselves to abandon the huts. It was imperative to return to Australia everything of value in order to recover the expedition’s funding shortfall of several thousand pounds. For instance, the extensive library of educated gentlemen’s reference books, novels and plays to which the men referred in their diaries was packed for home, and the disposable ‘penny dreadfuls’ left behind.

The same spirit gave rise to the year’s only sledge journey of note, which unsuccessfully tried to retrieve valuable equipment from field depots. Back at the Main Base, Bickerton erected a memorial cross to Ninnis and Mertz on Azimuth Hill. Hodgeman inscribed a plaque constructed from part of the kitchen table that was cut in two in 1913.

Mawson and the remaining men had secured the huts and left Cape Denison by Christmas 1913.

Granholm Hut is situated at 67° 00’ 29” S; 142° 39’ 26” E, some 160 m northwest of Mawson’s Main Hut. It was constructed in 1978 to provide a temporary shelter and workshop for parties working on Mawson’s Huts. It contains numerous building materials, some field equipment and limited provisions.

The signage will be in the English, French, Spanish and Russian languages, and will indicate the protection status of the site and its contents under the Antarctic Treaty.

Objects left by Mawson’s expedition are scattered throughout the Area, and appear from year to year depending on snow cover. These include cairns; cached seal and penguin carcasses; timbers; and a large collection of disassembled penguin skeletons. It is believed that a significant number of artefacts exist under the snow and have yet to be uncovered. It is additionally possible that artefacts from the ice cave known as ‘Aladdin’s Cave’, sledging depot excavated by Mawson’s expedition in 1912, may also be present in the vicinity of the ASMA, if not within the ASMA itself. The cave was originally located on the plateau at 67° 05’ S, 142° 38’ E, some 8 km south of Mawson’s Main Hut, but it may have been relocated (via the movement of ice) up to 4.5 km down-slope from the original 1912 location. Its exact location has yet to be determined.

5.4 Location of other protected areas in or near to the Area

ASPA No. 162 , encompassing the four AAE huts, is located within the Cape Denison ASMA, and exists to protect their historic and social values.

The Cape Denison ASMA is to be simultaneously listed as Historic Site and Monument No. 77 under the Antarctic Treaty.

There are no other ASPAs or ASMAs within 50 km of Cape Denison.

6. Zones within the Area

All activities within the Area are to comply with the provisions of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, the Code of Conduct contained in this management plan (see Section 8), and any other applicable instruments adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. In addition to these general guidelines, three zones are defined in which restrictions on certain activities are deemed necessary in order to meet the management objectives for the Area.

6.1 ASPA 162

ASPA 162 (Mawson’s Huts) is located within the ASMA. This ASPA encompasses the four Australasian Antarctic Expedition huts in order to protect their historic and social values. Entry to the ASPA and activities within it require a permit and must be carried out in accordance with the ASPA Management Plan.

6.2 Visual Protection Zone

The visual catchment of Mawson’s Huts and the memorial cross is of particular importance within the Cape Denison cultural landscape. In order to protect the landscape setting and ‘sense of place’ of Mawson’s Huts, a Visual Protection Zone is defined within the ASMA. To preserve these values, no new structures should be built within the Visual Protection Zone. The Visual Protection Zone is illustrated on Maps A and B and is generally defined as the area enclosed by the western and eastern ridge lines of the valley containing the historic structures. The boundary extends from the coastline (67° 00’ 24.9” S, 142° 39’ 14.3” E) and runs southeast along the western side of the westernmost ridge to the ice plateau (67° 00’ 46.8” S, 142° 39’ 37.2” E); northeast along the edge of the ice plateau to 67° 00’ 43.9” S, 142° 40’ 5.6” E; north- northwest between Round Lake and Long Lake to 67° 00’ 33.7” S, 142° 39’ 59.8” E; then as far as Magnetograph House (67° 00’ 20.3” S, 142° 39’ 46.6” E); and then northwest along the eastern side of the eastern ridge line to the sea (67° 00’ 15.7” S, 142° 39’ 28.2” E).

6.3 Helicopter Zone

Helicopter operations have the potential to disturb breeding and moulting wildlife. To minimise disturbance to seals and nesting birds at Cape Denison during the summer months, helicopters should only land at the site indicated on Map C and approach and depart in accordance with the flight paths indicated on the map. Departure paths have been selected to avoid wildlife concentrations as much as possible. Use of a single-engined helicopter is preferable; however twin-engined helicopters may be used with due regard for the potentially greater disturbance to wildlife. The presence of seals and the breeding cycle of birds nesting in the Area are charted at Appendices B(i) and B(ii); twin-engine helicopter operations should be avoided during weeks that birds are hatching eggs or raising chicks (late October to early March).

7. Maps of the Area

Map A: Cape Denison Management Zones.

This map shows the boundaries of the ASMA, the Historic Site, the Visual Protection Zone, ASPA No. 162, and significant topographic features of the Area. The inset map indicates the location in relation to the Antarctic continent.

Map B: Cape Denison Visual Protection Zone

This map shows the boundaries of the Visual Protection Zone and indicates the position of significant historic artefacts, including the four Australasian Antarctic Expedition huts, the memorial cross, and Anemometer Hill, and the site of the BANZARE proclamation pole.

Map C: Cape Denison Flight Paths and Bird Colonies.

This map indicates the approaches, departures and landing site for helicopters, as well as the location of bird colonies in the vicinity.

Specification for all maps

Projection: UTM Zone 54

Horizontal Datum: WGS84

8. Code of Conduct

The actions of individuals contribute significantly to protecting the Antarctic environment. This Code of Conduct is intended to provide general guidelines to help minimise environmental impacts at Cape Denison, but it cannot be expected to cover every situation. All visitors, including national program personnel and tourists, should consider their responsibilities and seek to minimise their impact on all aspects of the environment and most particularly the values described.

8.1 Access to and movement within or over the Area

All land vehicles are prohibited within the Area, with the exception of small all-terrain vehicles which, due to the colonisation of rocky areas by lichens and seabirds, should be used on snow and ice surfaces only and with due consideration of the location of historic artefacts. Pedestrian access within the Area is unrestricted but artefact-rich areas (such as the scatter immediately to the north of the Main Hut), bird or lichen colonies, and penguin ‘highways’ (the established route of birds moving between their nest and the sea) should be avoided.

8.2 Activities which are or may be conducted within the Area

·     Historic conservation and archaeological work.

·     Research, including scientific research.

·     Visitation for the purposes of education or recreation, including tourism.

·     Essential maintenance of non-historic infrastructure, including the Automatic Weather Station, and removal of non-historic objects that compromise the historic and aesthetic values of the Area. These activities should be conducted by authorised personnel only.

8.3 The installation, modification, or removal of structures

To preserve the historic, archaeological, social, aesthetic and environmental values of the ASMA, no new structures should be constructed, nor additional scientific equipment installed in the Area, except for the conservation, research or maintenance activities specified in Section 3 above.

All equipment and infrastructure left in the Area should be periodically reviewed for maintenance and potential removal.

8.4 The location of field camps

Existing non-historic infrastructure should be used by Parties undertaking activities in accordance with this management plan, in preference to establishing new infrastructure.

Tents should be pitched on the wooden platform adjacent to Sørensen Hut. Use of the huts and any supplies should be reported to the Australian Antarctic program as soon as practicable to ensure the safety of other people who may be reliant upon known stores.

8.5 The taking of or harmful interference with native flora and fauna

Approach distances to wildlife should be consistent with those agreed within the Committee for Environmental Protection. Until guidelines are adopted by the Committee, Table 1 below provides guidance.

Visitors should not wash, swim or dive in the lakes. These activities could contaminate the water body and disturb the water column, microbial communities, and sediments.

Table 1: Minimum distances to maintain when approaching wildlife on foot

Species	Phase of life	On foot (m)
Snow petrels	Nesting	15
Wilson’s storm-petrels	Nesting	15
South polar skuas	Nesting	15
Adélie penguins	Summer: on ice or away from colony	5
	Summer: breeding birds in colonies	15
Breeding Weddell seals and pups (includes weaners)	All times	15
Mature seals on their own (all species)	All times	5

8.6 The collection or removal of anything not brought into the Area by the visitor

Cape Denison is listed as a Historic Site under the Antarctic Treaty. In accordance with Annex V, Article 8 (4) of the Protocol, no historic structure or other artefact at Cape Denison should be damaged, destroyed or removed, unless removal of an artefact is essential for conservation purposes. Any artefacts may only be removed by authorised and appropriately trained personnel. The repatriation of the artefact to the location at Cape Denison from which it was removed is generally preferable unless further damage or deterioration may result from repatriation.

If an artefact is to be removed, the Australian Antarctic program should be informed so that documentation regarding that program’s archaeological research at Cape Denison may be amended accordingly.

8.7 The disposal of waste

All wastes, including human wastes, should be removed from the Area.

Refuelling of vehicles, generators and other essential equipment should be conducted with due care for the surrounding environment. Refuelling activities should not be conducted in the catchment areas of lakes or melt streams, at the ice edge, or in other sensitive areas.

8.8 Reports to be made to the appropriate authority regarding visits to the Area

To enhance cooperation and the coordination of activities in the Area, to allow for effective site monitoring and management, to facilitate the consideration of cumulative impacts, and to fulfil the aims and objectives of this Management Plan:

National program personnel, tourists and other non-government personnel proposing to visit, land, and/or conduct activities in the Area should inform the Australian Antarctic program of their intentions as far in advance of a visit as is practicable.

The details of all field activities should be accurately recorded for transfer to the management database of the Australian Antarctic program. See Section 9 below.

9. Information exchange

Parties with active programs in the Area and non-government operators should exchange information obtained during visits to the Area that may have a bearing on the operation of this Management Plan. For example, the expedition or tour leader should submit to the appropriate authority a report describing the activities undertaken in the Area. Such reports should include, as appropriate, the information identified in the Visit Report form contained in Appendix 4 of Resolution 2 (1998). Parties should maintain a record of such activities including summary descriptions of activities conducted by persons subject to their jurisdiction, which should be in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the effectiveness of this Management Plan.

Parties should, wherever possible, deposit originals or copies of this information in a publicly accessible archive to maintain a record of visitation or usage of the site, to be used both in any review of this Management Plan and to assist in organising the use of the Area.

10. Supporting Documentation

Australian Antarctic Division 2007. Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2007-2012. Kingston, Tas.

Ayres, P. 1999. Mawson: a Life. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press/Miegunyah Press: 68–69 passim.

Australia ICOMOS Inc. 2000. The Burra Charter: The Australian ICOMOS Charter for Place of Cultural Significance, 1999. Burwood: Australia ICOMOS Inc.: 2.

Dodge, C.W. 1948. BANZARE Reports, Series B, Vol. VII. British Australia New Zealand Antarctic Expedition.

Godden Mackay Logan 2001. Mawson’s Huts Historic Site, Cape Denison Commonwealth Bay Antarctica: Conservation Management Plan 2001. Sydney: Godden Mackay Logan: 26, 27, 35, 89–96, passim.

Godfrey, I. 2006. Mawson’s Huts Conservation Expedition 2006. Mawson’s Huts Foundation, Sydney

Hall, L. 2000. Douglas Mawson: The Life of an Explorer. Sydney: New Holland: 100, 109.

Hughes, J. and B. Davis. “The Management of Tourism at Historic Sites and Monuments.” In: Hall, C. M. and M.E. Johnston. 1995. Polar Tourism: Tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. London: John Wiley & Sons Ltd: 242, 245, 246.

Dr Jo Jacka, glaciologist (retired), Australian Antarctic Division, pers. comm. 27 March 2003; 28 March 2003.

Lazer, E. “Recommendations for Future Archaeological and Conservation Work at the Site Associated with Mawson's Hut Commonwealth Bay Antarctica.” October 1985: 1, 9, 10, Map 3.

Hayes, J. Gordon 1928. Antarctica: a treatise on the southern continent. London: The Richards Press Ltd.: 210–215.

McGregor, A. 1998. Mawson’s Huts: an Antarctic Expedition Journal. Sydney: Hale and Iremonger: 7–15.

McIntyre, D, and M. McIntyre 1996. “Weddell seal survey in Boat Harbour”. In: Australian Antarctic Division 1997. Initial Environmental Evaluation: AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation Conservation Program 1997–98: Attachment D.

Mawson, D. 1996 (reprint). The Home of the Blizzard. Adelaide: Wakefield Press: 121–122, 133, 200, 328.

Mawson’s Huts Foundation 2005. Mawson’s Huts Conservation Expedition 2005. Sydney

Mawson’s Huts Foundation 2008. Mawson’s Huts Conservation Expedition 2007-08. Sydney

Patterson, D. 2003. Mawson’s Huts Conservation Expedition 2002: Field Leader’s Report. Australian Antarctic Division.

Quilty, P. 1997. “Geology”. In: Australian Antarctic Division 1997. Initial Environmental
Evaluation: AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation Conservation Program 1997–98: 10–11.

Professor Rod Seppelt, botanist, Australian Antarctic Division, pers. comm. 19 February 2003. David Smith, mapping officer, Australian Antarctic Division, pers. comm. 15 April 2003.

Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Protection, Protected Areas (Accessed 16 February 2009).

Stillwell, F.L. 1918. The metamorphic rocks of Adélie Land. Australasian Antarctic Expedition, Scientific Reports, Series A, Vol. III part 1:15–22.

Dr Eric J. Woehler, ornithologist, Australian Antarctic Division, pers. comm. September 2002; 31 March 2003.

Appendix A

Fauna recorded at Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay: Breeding populations (pairs) of seabirds at Cape Denison

Species   No. pairs, December 2002

Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae   18,737

Wilson's storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus   38

Snow petrel Pagodroma nivea   30

South polar skua Catharacta maccormicki   8

? Antarctic prion Pachyptila desolata (indeterminate breeding status)
? Cape petrel Daption capense (indeterminate breeding status)

Other seabirds sighted at Cape Denison

Species

Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica
Southern giant petrel Macronectes giganteus
Sing penguin Aptenodytes patagonica

Royal penguin (carcase) Eudyptes schlegeli
Chinstrap penguin Pygoscelis Antarctica
Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri

Seals recorded at Cape Denison Species

Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii
Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx

Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina

Appendix B(i)

Helicopter operations: Breeding cycles of nesting seabirds at Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay

Species breeding at Cape Denison	Number	Summer breeding cycle
Wilson’s storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)	Approximately 38 pairs; three small colonies	Before mid-December: adults; after mid‑ December: adults, eggs and chicks
Snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea)	Approximately30; one small colony	Before late November: adults; after late November: adults, eggs and chicks
Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)	Approximately 18,800 pairs, numerous colonies	Before November: adults; after November: adults, eggs and chicks
South polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki)	Approximately 8 pairs, scattered nests on fringes of penguin colonies	Before mid-December: adults; after mid‑ adults and chicks

Appendix B(ii)

Helicopter operations: Seals at Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay

Species	Number	Summer breeding cycle
Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)	Exact number not known, no established colonies	Before November: no seals; between mid-November to end December, approx. 24 adults per day
Southern elephant seal(Mirounga leonina)	Exact number not known, no established colonies	Approx. 2 or adults per day in December

Appendix III     Key On-site Conservation Works

Year            Works party and main on-site conservation works  

1931            BANZARE

-      Memorial cross crossbar reattached

1951            Expédition qui hiverna en 1951 (French)

-      Memorial crossbar re-attached            

1974            Antarctic Division (ANARE)

-      Memorial cross repaired  

1977            Antarctic Division (ANARE)

-   Main Hut skylight covers repaired                  

-   Repatriation: memorial cross plaque, BANZARE proclamation, sledge, wheel, pipe, spanners and dividers returned to Australia             

1978            Antarctic Division (ANARE)

-      Memorial cross crossbar reattached and replica plaque installed  

-      Main Hut workshop roof patched, ice removed, some interior lining replaced, artefacts recorded and stored

-      Main Hut living section artefacts extensively recorded

1981            Antarctic Division (ANARE)

-      Retrieval of artefacts for display in Australia, and film-making for a documentary        

1982            Oceanic Research Foundation (private expedition)

Main Hut minor roof repairs  

1984-86       Project Blizzard (private expedition)

-      Main Hut internal platform stabilised with metal and timber props          

-      Artefact scatters: initial archaeological site survey

-      Main Hut and Magnetograph House artefacts documented

-      Main Hut ice excavated

-      Condition assessments

-      Memorial and proclamation plaques removed and replaced with replicas

-      Experimental work for future conservation of materials on the site

1996            AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Survey visit to gather information for a works plan

1997-98       AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Main Hut skylights, ridge capping, gutters and flashings repaired and ice removed

-      Main Hut workshop roof over-clad

-      Main Hut living section central platform restored

-      Magnetograph House roof re-clad, door and tar-paper lining repaired

-      Absolute Magnetic Hut excavated from ice and original building fabric restored

-      Transit Hut structure restored – loose boards re-fixed

-      Memorial cross crossbar reattached with stainless steel brackets

-      Internal environmental monitoring equipment installed

-      Archaeological site survey; artefacts documented; ice cores taken

2000-01       AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Main Hut battens added to cover gaps on southern roof plane    

-      Archaeological site survey; artefacts documented

2002-03       AAD

-      Main Hut structural investigations and workshop roof structure repaired

-      Site Geographic Information System (GIS) framework and artefacts inventory established

-      Living section and workshop artefacts catalogued

-      Artefact scatters around Main Hut, Penguin Knob and the two seal caches documented

-      Environmental sensors and data loggers reinstalled

-      Archaeological site survey; artefacts documented

2005-06       AAP Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Main Hut parts affected by snow and melt water ingress repaired/monitored     

-      Main Hut living section roof battens secured and ice removed    

-      Workshop skylight covers replaced

2006-07       Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-       Main Hut living section roof encapsulated (over-clad with fabric membrane and Baltic pine)

-       Vibration sensors installed                  

-       Main Hut living section snow and ice removed

-       Main Hut flagpole returned to Australia; replica installed

2007-08       Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Construction of laboratory for artefact conservation treatment

-      Archaeological survey of artefact scatter

-      Continued snow and ice excavation inside Main Hut

2008-09       Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Removal of snow and ice from Main Hut

-      Reinstating and fixing of timbers to the Transit Hut

-      Completion of new laboratory to treat artefacts

-      Documentation of condition of buildings

-      Conservation treatment of 88 artefacts

-      Documentation and removal of snow and ice from Main Hut

2009-10       Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Platform timber in Main Hut reinstated

-      Excavation of ice in several locations inside the Main Hut

-      Over cladding of the outside southwest corner of the Main Hut

-      Magnetograph House opened and internal condition recorded

-      Photography, cataloguing and treatment of 156 artefacts

-      Survey and map of the internal fitting and artefacts inside Main Hut and workshop completed

-      Air tractor fragments recovered and returned to Australia for treatment

-      Archaeological survey completed and exposed artefacts mapped using kite aerial photography

2010-11       Mawson’s Huts Foundation

-      Timber portal frame installed to stabilise Transit Hut

-      Packing and removal of air tractor tail for conservation treatment

-      Archaeological survey of an artefact scatter north of Main Hut

2012           AAD Centenary Expedition

-       Minor maintenance and condition report

Appendix IV    National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List Criteria

10.01A Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations
            National Heritage criteria (EPBC Act s 324D)

(1) For section 324D of the Act, subregulation (2) prescribes the National Heritage criteria for the following:

(a)            natural heritage values of places;

(b)            indigenous heritage values of places;

(c)            historic heritage values of places.

(2)   The National Heritage criteria for a place are any or all of the following:

(a)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(b)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(c)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(d)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of:

(i) a class of Australia’s natural or cultural places; or

(ii) a class of Australia’s natural or cultural environments;

(e)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by a community or cultural group;

(f) the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period;

(g)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons;

(h)            the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(i) the place has outstanding heritage value to the nation because of the place’s importance as part of indigenous tradition.

(3)   For subregulation (2), the cultural aspect of a criterion means the indigenous cultural aspect, the non-indigenous cultural aspect, or both.

10.03A Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations
    Commonwealth Heritage criteria (EPBC Act s 341D)

(1) For section 341D of the Act, subregulation (2) prescribes the Commonwealth Heritage criteria for the following:

(a)            natural heritage values of places;

(b)            indigenous heritage values of places;

(c)            historic heritage values of places.

(2)   The Commonwealth Heritage criteria for a place are any or all of the following:

(a)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s importance in the course, or pattern, of Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(b)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(c)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(d)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of:

(i) a class of Australia’s natural or cultural places; or

(ii) a class of Australia’s natural or cultural environments;

(e)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by a community or cultural group;

(f) the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period;

(g)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons;

(h)            the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Australia’s natural or cultural history;

(i) the place has significant heritage value because of the place’s importance as part of indigenous tradition.

(3)   For subregulation (2), the cultural aspect of a criterion means the indigenous cultural aspect, the non-indigenous cultural aspect, or both.

Appendix V     Location of Objects, Images and Papers in Australia

Objects, images and papers relating to the AAE and to Sir Douglas Mawson are found throughout Australia:

•Australian Antarctic Division (papers, failed building materials, debris, sledging and other equipment, specimens)

•Australian Museum (objects and scientific specimens)

•Powerhouse Museum (Australian Museum objects and Laseron items)

•Newcastle Regional Museum (Australian Museum objects on permanent loan)

•State Library of New South Wales (AAE manuscripts, correspondence, objects and over 2500 photographs)

•Queensland Museum and Western Australian Museum (duplicates of AAE fish specimens, air tractor tail, flag pole, juvenile emperor penguin stuffed by Dr McLean)

•Museum of Victoria (duplicates of AAE bird, mammal and marine specimens)

•Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (Harrisson objects from Western Base), two generators and mast sections from Macquarie Island

•National Museum of Australia (1931 proclamation)

•National Gallery of Australia (Hurley photographs)

•National Library of Australia (AAE photographs; diaries of several AAE members)

•National Film and Sound Archive (cine films and related posters)

•National Archives of Australia (Laseron photographs, BANZARE proclamations and canister)

•Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (AAE algae specimens)

•Barr Smith Library, Adelaide (images)

•University of Adelaide: Tate Museum (Mawson’s rocks and minerals), Mawson Estate Trustees Collection (Mawson’s polar library, photographs and artefacts)

•South Australian Museum (Mawson Collection – part of Australian Polar Collection)

•Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, NZ (magnetometer)

•University of Sydney (geological specimens and other objects)

•University of Sydney Library (van der Graf paintings)

•Privately held records (eg Madigans’ diaries, Harrisson paintings)

Appendix VI      Current Datasets on Management of the Site

Type of Record	Location	Comment
Approvals issued for works	AAD – individual project files, filed by project number	More detailed information on project approvals and outcomes could be posted on the AAD website to improve public access
Description of work undertaken, including progress & final reports	Australian Antarctic Division – individual project files
Monitoring programs/plans implemented	AAD – individual project files, AADC AAS Projects and metadata
Building plans	Conservation management plan	The AAD needs to acquire electronic copies or original plans
Files	AAD file system	Not linked to other data sets
Maps	AADC map catalogue	Publicly available via the AAD website
Aerial photographs	AADC metadata
Satellite images	AADC metadata
Design specification and other documentation	AAD – individual project files AADC Antarctic program publications; scientific bibliographies; library monographs
Conservation works program schedules	AAD – individual project files
Cultural heritage objects	AADC Antarctic artefacts - includes some images.	Covers more than 1700 in situ objects. Publicly available via the AAD website
Images	AAD – iMAGEAntarctica (some not yet catalogued)	Publicly available via the AAD website.
Locations of standing buildings, cultural features, landscape features and historic structures, works and paths	AADC Metadata
Archaeological information, artefact scatters	Survey data held by AAD in the Antarctic Heritage Register	Artefact scatters partly mapped An accurate survey of the site, ideally with aerial or kite aerial photography, is required
Areas which have been cleaned up, including a history of works	AAD – individual project files, conservation works reports
Data from monitoring programs/plans	AADC AAS projects and metadata

Appendix VII     Glossary  

Heritage conservation terms are used in this report in accordance with the definitions adopted in The Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance: The Burra Charter is the standard for cultural conservation acknowledged by government heritage agencies around Australia.

Definitions that are specific to this plan are provided below.

Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) is an area set aside under Annex V of the Madrid Protocol to preserve unique natural systems or to reduce the risk of interference to areas of exceptional scientific interest. An ASMA is used to help plan and coordinate activities, to minimise environmental impacts. Under article 4(2) of Annex V, an ASMA may include ‘sites or monuments of recognised historic value’.

Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) is an area set aside under Annex V of the Madrid Protocol to protect ‘outstanding environmental, scientific, historic, aesthetic or wilderness values, any combination of those values, or ongoing or planned scientific research.’ An ASPA protects values within its boundaries by requiring permits for entry and applying a management plan to control activities in the area.

Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961 and established an international framework for the governance of the continent, which set aside differences of opinion over the status of individual territorial claims in Antarctica. The Treaty reserved Antarctica as a demilitarised zone, setting aside the continent for peace and science. Under the Treaty, provisions have been made to conserve the natural environment of Antarctica and to protect historic sites and monuments.

Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 (ATEP) is the Australian legislation that gives effect to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty 1991 (Madrid Protocol).

Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AADC) was established in 1995 as a repository for scientific data resulting from the Australian Antarctic program. Data resulting from the Australian Antarctic Division’s science program is the property of the Australian Government. However, in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty’s article 3.1.c, Australia makes these data publicly available two years after the date of collection. All data within the AADC is discoverable and described through a metadata system.

Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) was established in 1948 and is now a division of the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC). It is charged with achieving Australia’s policy, operational and scientific goals relating to Antarctica and has legislative

responsibility for the conservation and management of Mawson’s Huts.

Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) comprises all the islands and territories, other than Adélie Land (136° 11’E to 142° 04’E), situated south of 60° S and lying between 160° E and 45° E, as defined by the Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933.

Australian Heritage Council (AHC) is the heritage advisory body to the federal minister responsible for heritage matters. In 2003 the Council replaced the Australian Heritage Commission.

Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) referred to the field operations of the Australian Antarctic Division. Established in 1947, Sir Douglas Mawson was a member of the planning committee, which advised the government on Antarctic policy. Three expeditions were organised in 1947, two of which successfully established ANARE research stations on Heard and Macquarie Islands.

British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) 1929-1931 was financially supported by the Australian, British and New Zealand governments, and private funds. The expedition was organised and led by Sir Douglas Mawson and its aims were political, economic and scientific. Its primary aim was to claim the land covered by the AAE, together with any additional lands possible. The expedition was conducted almost totally aboard ship, with five land proclamations made, including one at Cape Denison.

Burra Charter refers to The Australia ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance 1979, in its amended version adopted in 1999. (It is also available as The Illustrated Burra Charter (Good Practice for Heritage Places) 2004). The Charter sets a standard of practice for those who provide advice, make decisions about, or undertake works to places of cultural significance, and is widely accepted as a national statement of best practice by heritage agencies and governments.

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) is a Commonwealth government department which develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia’s natural environment and cultural heritage. The department administers environment and heritage laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Formerly known as: (i) the Department of the Environment and Water Resources, (ii) the Department of the Environment and Heritage, and (iii) Environment Australia.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act is Commonwealth legislation which protects the environment, particularly matters of National Environmental Significance. It streamlines national environmental assessment and approvals process, protects Australian biodiversity and integrates management of important natural and cultural places.

Geographical Information System (GIS) is a computer based program that provides an efficient way to manage, analyse and display spatial data. A GIS allows for data from a variety of different sources to be rapidly overlaid for viewing and analysing.

Madrid Protocol is the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, adopted by the Antarctic Treaty parties in 1991, and in force since 1998. Its annexes address environmental impact assessment, conservation of fauna and flora, waste, marine pollution, area protection, and management and liability. Provisions for the protection of cultural heritage are in Annex V, article 8.

Mawson’s Huts Foundation was established by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) in 1995, and is now an independent charity. Its mission is to ‘conserve in perpetuity for the Australian people, the historic buildings erected at Cape Denison by the 1911-14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, now known as Mawson’s Huts’.

Plucking of weathered fibres is the removal of wood fibres by wind in the lee of the wind, rather than by impact of snow/ice particles.

Territories Environment and Treaties (TET) Section, within the Strategies Branch of the AAD, coordinates Australia’s contributions to international conventions covering the Antarctic and develops environmental policies and management measures for the protection of the Antarctic environment.

[1] In the context of this Management Plan the term conservation “means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its cultural significance”, as defined in Article 1.4, of The Burra Charter: The Australian ICOMOS Burra Charter, 1999.

[2] In the context of this Management Plan the term conservation “means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its cultural significance”, as defined in Article 1.4, of The Burra Charter: The Australian ICOMOS Burra Charter, 1999.