Shackleton's Expedition Base, Cape Royds
The expedition base associated with Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1907 expedition is located at Cape Royds and was the first site to be saved as part of the Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project.
Project Timing: 2004 - 2008.
Status: Building confirmed as structurally secure and weather-tight and conservation of the 5,000+ artefact collection complete. Minor conservation works are planned for the garage and stable area over the next two/three summer seasons. Annual maintenance will occur each summer.
Fundraising for this site is complete and a Capital Maintenance Fund established in the name of Mrs Audrey Dance.
Summary of Work Completed to Secure the Site
Work to Secure Building.
Roof. The roof has been reclad and the original battens re-laid overtop. This has been crucial to keep the building weather-tight and secure.
Repair to the Building Fabric. Conservation and repairs have been undertaken on the timber cladding and Mawson’s lab has been relined. Again, critical to keep the building weather-tight and secure. Modern doors and windows (put in during the 1970’s) were removed and replaced with historically accurate materials based on the original architectural drawings.
Removal of ice from underneath the Hut. In 2006/07 the team removed over 40 cubic metres of solid ice from underneath the site, fitted a waterproof cladding and reworked gradients to ensure water flows around the site rather than underneath it.
The removal of decaying expedition provisions around southern and eastern walls. Boxes of original provisions stored in ‘Venesta’ cases stacked around the exterior walls had decayed significantly and were causing both structural and environmental damage. During 2003/04 the cases were removed, inspected, and treated accordingly. Approximately 75 of the Venesta cases have been conserved, filled with original provisions and returned to the site.
Work to Secure the Artefact Collection. From 2006 - 2008 an international team of conservators worked year round in Antarctica conserving the 5,000+ artefact collection. Conservation of the collection is now complete. Ongoing basic conservation of the collection will be needed. A small amount of onsite conservation in the garage and stables area will occur over the next 2-3 summer seasons.
Reconfiguration of Interior. During the 2006/07 season the conservation team, using original expedition photos and diaries, returned the layout of the interior of the hut to reflect the occupation of Shackleton’s 1907-09 expedition.
Related Links and Documents
Blog hosted by the Natural History Museum, London
Meet our Specialist Conservation Team
Go back to read about the status of each of the other expedition bases.