Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p44
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 112564–115505

the need for wind resistance, simplicity, portability and resistance to the cold. The Main Hut is, perhaps, a climax of the Heroic Era building type, and is clearly designed for its functional purpose.

Official Values

National Heritage Criteria Values

    A.  Events, Processes

    Mawson's Huts Historic Site was the first base for scientific and geographical discovery in Antarctica by Australians. The site of Mawson's Huts marks the location of the earliest large-scale scientific inquiry by Australians outside Australia following Federation. The Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) 1911–1914, carried out major scientific experiments and laid the foundation for the eventual claim to a large portion of the Antarctic continent by Australia. The expedition was also the first to pioneer the use of wireless communication and the first to attempt to obtain an aeroplane for use in Antarctica. The place is one of six surviving Heroic Era (1897 to 1917) expedition bases which symbolise the first period of land-based scientific research and geographic discovery in Antarctica.

    The attributes are embedded in the AAE fabric including four timber buildings, two intact and two as standing ruins. These include the Main Hut with living section, workshop and verandahs (intact), the Magnetograph House (intact), Absolute Magnetic Hut (standing ruin with no roof), and Transit Hut (standing ruin with no roof). Mawson's Huts Historic Site also includes wireless masts (ruins), survey markers and memorials, and a large amount of stores, equipment, animal food caches and AAE artefacts remain in concentration around the Main Hut and across the whole of Cape Denison.

    B.  Rarity

    The AAE was the first and the only expedition organised, manned and supported by Australians during the Heroic Era. It is, therefore, unique in Australian history. The Mawson's Huts Historic Site is the only surviving site representing the work of an Australian expedition of the Heroic Age. It is one of only six sites remaining from the international contribution to the Heroic Age exploration of Antarctica.

    The site has a high level of integrity, retaining the Main Hut, plus the three scientific huts and a large number of artefacts.

     The attributes are the same as criterion (A).

    C.  Research

     The whole of Cape Denison contains evidence of the AAE, with the largest concentration in the Main Valley. This is an area of substantial archaeological deposit and archaeological potential. The interiors of the huts contain evidence of the domestic and work life of the AAE during the period of occupation (1912-1913). The site retains a great 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