Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Proclamation 2005
Part 58Antarctic specially protected area No. 158
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Part 58 Antarctic specially protected area No. 158
Hut Point, Ross Island.
Latitude 77 50 50 S, longitude 166 38 E.
The significant historic value of this Area was formally recognised when it was designated as Historic Site and Monument No. 18 in Recommendation 9 (1972). It was designated as Specially Protected Area No. 28 in Measure 1 (1998) and redesignated as Antarctic Specially Protected Area 158 in Decision 1 (2002).
The hut was built in February 1902 during the National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition of 1901–1904, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott who later found it a valuable advance staging point for journeys on the “Barrier” during his 1910-1913 expedition. It was also used by Sir Ernest Shackleton during the 1907-1909 British Antarctic Expedition and later by his stranded Ross Sea Party during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917. This building was prefabricated in Australia to an ‘outback’ design with verandahs on three sides.
The Hut Point site is one of the principal sites of early human activity in Antarctica. It is an important symbol of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration and, as such, has considerable historical significance. Some of the earliest advances in the study of earth sciences, meteorology, flora and fauna in Antarctica are associated with the Discovery Expedition based at this site. The history of these activities and the contribution they have made to the understanding and awareness of Antarctica give this Area significant scientific, aesthetic and historic values.