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Hillary’s Hut, Scott Base
SCOTT BASE
History of the Expedition
1955–1958
Trans-Antarctic Expedition and International Geophysical Year
In 1955, the announcement was made of a Third Polar Year, to be known as the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957–58; this was to involve many nations worldwide, and was to focus on geophysical observations around the globe. It was considered that a station on Ross Island ‘would represent an important link in the chain of Antarctic Circumpolar stations and in the meridional chain consisting of the South Polar Plateau stations, Ross Island, Campbell Island, Macquarie Island, Invercargill and Christchurch.’
The New Zealand Government was invited to establish a station on Ross Island as part of the network of stations that would be making geophysical, upper atmosphere and other observations around the globe.
Crossing the Ice
Hillarys Hut Floor Plan
Hut Layout
SCOTT BASE
Scott Base is situated on Pram Point, at the southern tip of Ross Island. Mt Erebus is the dominant feature that forms the backdrop of the base.
The TAE/IGY Hut is part of the cluster of green, flat-roofed buildings making up Scott Base. It is sited on the outer south-western side of the base, standing separately but visually still a part of the group of base buildings.
The site today is ‘modern’, bearing little resemblance to its appearance in 1957, when the base consisted of six single-storey buildings connected by a long covered way with the buildings arranged on either side. There were a further three small (and detached) science buildings.
Today the number and scale of the buildings have increased, although the base is still dwarfed by the grandeur of the landscape. Hut A has been moved 40m closer to the shore from its original site, retaining its original orientation so – with the aid of a site plan – you can still picture the original layout of the buildings either side of the spine formed by the covered way.
The Trust has partnered with Auckland University of Technology to create a ground-breaking virtual reality experience of Sir Edmund Hillary’s Antarctic hut. Launching soon, people will be invited to step inside Hillary’s (TAE/IGY) Hut and to explore the first building at what is now New Zealand’s Scott Base. A fully immersive experience, which includes a guided tour through the hut, it celebrates New Zealand’s first leadership presence in Antarctica as part of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition and International Geophysical Year.
The Trust recently finished conservation on the hut and is pleased to be able to share this iconic piece of Antarctic history. Stories of Hillary’s 23-man team and their mission to further science and exploration in the world’s most extreme environment will feature within the experience and through accompanying material.
The virtual reality experience will be freely available at selected institutions around New Zealand, as well as being accessible online internationally.
The Trust gratefully acknowledges principal sponsor Ryman Healthcare, as well as Antarctica NZ (logistics) and Staples VR (technical).
