Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 13967–16937

buildings in differing ways depending on their origin and manufacture. As such, this management plan adopts differing approaches towards the conservation of intact structures and standing ruins at the site.

The main pressures on the National and Commonwealth Heritage values associated with the site stem from environmental factors. Wind, humidity, salt, snow/ice and the associated freeze/thaw action have impacted over time on the listed values. During the life of this plan there will be further monitoring and analysis of these key pressures to inform work plans and the development of the next management plan.

Other management actions under this plan will help to ensure that the values of the Mawson's Huts Historic Site are protected, conserved, presented and transmitted to all generations. This plan also provides for a review of the National and Commonwealth Heritage values associated with Mawson's Huts and an assessment of the structural integrity of the buildings.

This plan replaces the Mawson's Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2007-12 and will be reviewed within five years.

PART 1 – INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

1.1 Introduction

Situated at Cape Denison, George V Land in the Australian Antarctic Territory, Mawson's Huts have stood for over one hundred years as the cornerstone of Australia's Antarctic history. The Historic Site was the first base associated with Australia's scientific and geographical discovery of Antarctica and consists of buildings, structures and relics from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) of 1911-1914, led by Dr (later Sir) Douglas Mawson. The AAE was unique, as the only expedition organised, manned and supported predominantly by Australians during the so-called Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration. Cape Denison is one of only six sites remaining from this era, and is the least disturbed of the six.

Mawson's Huts Historic Site is on Commonwealth land and the Commonwealth of Australia is the owner of the site, its structures and its objects. The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) is the agency through which ownership is expressed and through which Commonwealth control of the site is exercised. Responsibility for the protection, conservation and management of the site is also vested in the AAD as administrator of the Australian Antarctic Territory on behalf of the Australian Government.

The cultural heritage significance of the huts and their setting is recognised internationally. They have been inscribed since 1972 on the Antarctic Treaty List of Historic Sites and Monuments (HSM) No. 77, and since 2004 designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No 162 within an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) No 3 under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

National recognition has come from the huts' inclusion on the Register of the National Estate