Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p22
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 56119–58762

in sheepskin and canvas. There is a partial lining of asbestos cement sheeting. The structure had one door in the northeast corner. A 20" transit telescope loaned to the expedition by the Melbourne Observatory was housed on a 255 mm square wood pillar set into the rocks. The telescope, in conjunction with wireless time signals fixed their longitude very accurately. An inscription on the pillar describes detail of the longitude of the location. The hut incorporates meridional slots in the roof and tops of the north and south walls.

Memorial Cross and Plaque

The memorial cross to Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz, built by Francis Bickerton, was erected on Azimuth Hill, to the northwest of the Main Hut, in November 1913. The upright and cross bar were fabricated from remnant timber - apparently from the radio masts - of approximately 170 mm by 170 mm. The upright projects 3.4 m above the surrounding rocks and is capped by a 65 mm wide metal collar. The crossbar is 2.2 m long with a 65 mm wide collar at each end. The crossbar is fixed to the upright 2.2 m above the rocks (Godden Mackay Logan 2001).

The crossbar has blown off numerous times. It was re-attached in 1931 by BANZARE, in 1951 by a French overland expedition from Dumont d'Urville, in 1978 by ANARE and a fourth time by the AAP Mawson's Huts Foundation expedition in 1997-98. A plaque attached to the cross, probably made of wood from the dining table, was inscribed by Francis Hodgeman: 'Erected to commemorate the supreme sacrifice made by Lieut. B.E.S. Ninnis, R.F. and Dr. X. Mertz in the cause of science A.A.E. 1913 A.J. Hodgeman'. The plaque currently in place is a replica. The original was removed to Australia in 1977, returned to the site in 1978, removed again in 1985 and replaced by a reconstruction in 1986.

Proclamation Pole and Plaque

A small plaque and proclamation were affixed to the mast of the AAE anemometer station during the BANZARE territorial claim ceremony in 1931, on what was thereafter known as Proclamation Hill. The original proclamation was removed to Australia in 1977 and replaced with a replica proclamation and replica bronze cylinder in 1978. The original plaque was removed in 1977, returned inside a transparent plastic and metal frame in 1978, removed in 1985 and replaced with a replica in 1986.

Alignment and Survey Marks

The terrestrial magnetism program used five stations and marks to enable observations. Two of the stations, the Absolute Magnetic Hut and the Magnetograph Hut, have been described above. The main azimuth mark (west mark) consists of a 7.6 x 5.1 cm timber, about 1.22 m long, around which a cairn