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Shackleton’s Hut

Cape Royds

Ernest Shackleton’s Hut

CAPE ROYDS

This is the base associated with Sir Ernest Shackleton’s British Antarctic (Nimrod) Expedition 1907–1909. Following his role in Scott’s Discovery expedition, Shackleton mounted his own in an attempt to be the first to reach the Geographic South Pole.

The Conservation Plan for Shackleton’s Hut at Cape Royds, developed as part of the Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project, can be purchased by emailing info@nzaht.org

The interior of Shackleton's Hut

© Credit: Kinsey, Joseph James (Sir), 1852-1936. Photographs relating to Antarctica and mountaineering. Ref: PA1-o-464-17. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. - credit: Credit: Kinsey, Joseph James (Sir), 1852-1936. Photographs relating to Antarctica and mountaineering. Ref: PA1-o-464-17. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarctica 1907-1909

History of the Expedition

1907–1909
British Antarctic (Nimrod) Expedition

The Nimrod expedition was the third British expedition to the Ross Sea region within 10 years.

Travelling with Shackleton on the 200 ton Nimrod, were a shore party of 14 men, a specially designed prefabricated hut, 15 Manchurian ponies, nine dogs and an air-cooled, four-cylinder 11kW (15 hp) motorcar, the new Arrol-Johnston.

His expedition achieved a number of firsts. In March 1908 a party of five was the first to climb Mt Erebus. In late 1908 Shackleton led a party of four in an attempt to be the first to reach the Geographic South Pole. After man-hauling for two and a half months, and less than 97 nautical miles from the Pole, he made a decision considered the finest in early polar history – to turn for home.

The wreck of the Endurance located

The discovery of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance in 2022 by the Endurance22 Expedition has been hailed as one of the greatest Antarctic finds this century, by those at the helm of conserving Antarctic history.

Hut Layout

Cape Royds

Shackleton and his men built their hut to be as robust as possible – after all, it was their refuge from extreme Antarctic conditions for 14 months. The fact that the main part of the hut is still standing today is testament to their efforts and the skill of the designers.

The hut is a timber structure prefabricated by Humphreys Limited of Knightsbridge in London in 1907. It was first assembled in London and the parts were marked for re-erection on site.