Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project
The largest heritage project ever undertaken in the polar regions.
The Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project is a multi-year, multi-site heritage conservation programme in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. It is the world’s largest, cold-climate heritage conservation project.
Since 2006 we have engaged over 80 international heritage and conservation specialists in Antarctica, working in our custom-built facilities in the most challenging heritage conservation environment on Earth.
To date we have completed a major phase of conservation work on Ross Island, which has included the conservation of four historic bases and more than 20,000 artefacts:
- Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1908 base and its collection of more than 6000 artefacts
- Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s last expedition base at Cape Evans and its 11,500 artefacts
- Scott’s first expedition base at Hut Point and 500 artefacts
- Hillary’s Hut at Scott Base and its 600 artefacts
- The conservation of more than 1500 artefacts from Borchgrevink’s Hut at Cape Adare
The historic-base sites have a comprehensive monitoring and maintenance programme of work in place for at least 25 years.
The Trust is currently working to conserve the first buildings in Antarctica – Borchgrevink’s Huts at Cape Adare.
Conservation Plans for each of the Explorer Bases, developed as part of the Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project, can be purchased by emailing info@nzaht.org
You can conserve these incredible places
Each year our expert team of conservators travel to Antarctica to maintain and conserve these huts and the 20,000 artefacts left inside. This ongoing work ensures that the legacy of Antarctic exploration continues for generations to come. But we cannot do this work without help from people like you.
By making a gift to the Trust you can help conserve the legacy of Antarctic exploration. If you’re passionate about this work, consider becoming an Antarctic Explorer Member or leaving a gift in your Will.
