New Zealand has had a continuous and significant involvement in Antarctica all since the young seaman Alexander von Tunzelmann together with Norwegians Carsten Borchgrevink and Leonard Kristensen became the first persons to set foot on the Antarctic mainland.  New Zealand’s Antarctic claim, Ross Dependency, was staked in 1923, and later suspended when New Zealand together with USA, Norway, and 9 other nations established the Antarctic Treaty in 1961.

The Antarctic Treaty sprang out of the multinational operational and scientific cooperation of the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958 (IGY), and Scott Base was New Zealand’s main contribution to this. It was built during the summer 1956-1957 to support the IGY and the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, during which Sir Edmund Hillary’s team became the first to reach the South Pole overland since Amundsen’s and Scott’s.  Since then the base has been in continuous, year-round operation, and today it has grown into a modern and well-kept station supporting a wide range of scientific projects across many disciplines. It is operated by Antarctica New Zealand.  The wintering crew usually counts around 20 persons, while the station accommodates up to 85 during the summer seasons.

Station coordinator Yvonne Boesterling was our host last night, and showed us around the many inter-connected buildings; the crew quarters, the technical and staging areas, the laboratories and the neat and attractive communal areas.  Of special interest to the Norwegians was the most recent addition to the base, the Hillary Field Centre – an 1800 sq.m. facility for field party preparation, storage and cargo handling, equipment maintenance, briefing and training; very well laid out and well organised – something to dream about for future improvements to Troll Station.  The entire base gives a very inviting impression – so if I ever was to spend a winter in Antarctica, Scott Base would definitely be my choice!

An exciting pub quiz topped our visit; entering as the ‘Polar Plateau’ team and competing against some 12 other teams from Scott Base and McMurdo. We nearly pulled off a tie with the local champions, and (this is for the locals) we would have made it if only Pete Conrad had been with us :-)

Thank you Yvonne (and Neil) for a visit to remember!

Station coordinator Yvonne showing Ole and Andreas around in the Hillary Field Centre.

Artefacts on display in Hillary's hut from 1957, now a historic monument. (Both photos: Stein Tronstad)