Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p45
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 115229–118239

deal of physical evidence which can be interpreted by archaeological study.

     As an archaeological resource, the significance of Mawson's Huts Historic Site lies not only in the provisions and equipment available to expeditions during the early twentieth century, but also in the insights they provide into human responses to isolation and confinement and extreme climatic conditions. Of all the remaining historical hut sites in the Antarctic region, it appears to have been subject to the least intervention. The scientific huts still allow for research to be undertaken, with potential to yield information on climatic impact and environmental change as well as material deterioration and conservation in Antarctic environments.

     The significance of the site comes from the powerful interplay of documentary and physical evidence in Australia and physical evidence on-site. Unlike sites where only physical evidence or only documentary evidence is available, the significance of the site has the potential to be accessed and understood both on-site and elsewhere.

    The attributes are the AAE fabric including the four timber buildings, and the original points from which surveying, cartographic, meteorological, and magnetic observations were made. The interiors of the Main Hut and the Magnetograph House include foodstuffs, personal memorabilia and clothing. A large amount of stores, equipment, animal food, caches and AAE artefacts remain in concentration around the Main Hut and the whole of Cape Denison.

    D.  Principal characteristics of a class of places

    Mawson's Huts Historic site is one of six surviving Heroic Era wintering bases. It demonstrates the range of building uses, scientific equipment and artefact types typical of its class and period. All elements of the site contribute to the demonstration of what a Heroic Era base was like.

    The buildings were purpose built for polar winter accommodation and were associated with specific scientific and exploration expeditions. The design form, construction materials, structure, functional planning and services of these huts all reflect the function of the expedition and their polar location. As a group, Mawson's Huts retain the most intact and diverse range of accommodation and scientific huts of all the Heroic Era complexes.

     The site of the extant AAE Main Base demonstrates, in its surviving form and setting, the isolation and harsh conditions encountered by members of the expedition in their important work. It shares the typical characteristics of Heroic Era huts, it is located in a remote area for temporary occupation associated with scientific and geographic discovery, the design and placement of the buildings, the artefacts, materials used, the type of scientific equipment and the scientific data and samples collected.

     The intactness of the buildings as a group demonstrates their function during a particular and intense period of time. The weathering of the huts and the patination