Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343:front:0:p40
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L01343
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 102114–104960

various criteria of national estate significance. The statement of significance says:

    The place is significant as the site of Australia's first scientific work in Antarctica, as a tangible link with the explorations of Sir Douglas Mawson, as the least disturbed of the nine sites of the heroic period of Antarctic exploration, as the location of Australia's first claim to Antarctic territory and is a most powerful symbol of the nature of Australia's research early this century.

The Main Hut and the memorial cross have been recognised as Historic Monuments under the Antarctic Treaty since 1972, on the basis of consensus among Antarctic Treaty Parties that they belonged to the category of 'historic monuments which should be preserved'.. The Register of the National Estate and Antarctic Treaty listings show that the place had recognised heritage significance long before its inclusion on the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists.

Review of heritage values

As part of the review of the 2007 management plan, a preliminary internal review of the National and Commonwealth Heritage values associated with Mawson's Huts was undertaken. Advice was received from internal and external heritage experts in relation to any changes to the identified values as a result of major conservation works, such as ice removal activities, over-cladding of the Main Hut and the fitting of the portal frame to the Transit Hut. This review was hampered by limited access to the huts during the 2011/12 season. Despite this, the review concluded that while these works impacted somewhat on the visual aesthetics of the site, overall these activities have led to significant improvements to the longevity of the listed values.  However, it was decided that a more comprehensive review should be undertaken during the life of this current plan when more time could likely be spent on site re-assessing the values. This review will take into consideration the need for conservation intervention that will lead to the longevity of the site as well as focusing on the attributes associated with each listed value. Any identified changes to the listed heritage values for the site resulting from the review will need to follow a separate process in accordance with the EPBC Act.

Limitations

Previous assessments have identified observable social associations with the place, but have focused on the fabric of the site as the elements reflecting heritage values, at the expense of associative values. The Commonwealth and National Heritage listings provide a good assessment of the values for the site, however the listings are not always explicit in identifying the particular fabric associated with the values. As with the 2007 management plan, some interpretation has been required for the purposes of this plan to ensure the values and the fabric are