Heritage experts cut through the ice and snow of Mawson’s Hut. It was built by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition , which was headed by Sir Douglas Mawson . Mawson’s Huts, plural, are a group of huts located in this area. They can be found at Cape Denison (Community Bay), 3 ,000km (1 ,864m) south-east from Hobart. They are unique because only six sites of Antarctic exploration from the Heroic Era are still surviving. This period spanned from the 19th Century to the 1917.. The Mawson’s Huts Foundation posted this picture in Facebook, and wrote “Ice removal going well inside the living section.” (Image: facebook.com/MawsonsHutsFoundation) The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was the only expedition at the time that was organised, staffed and supported almost entirely by Australians. Mawson’s Hut, the living quarters of the explorers was Mawson’s Hut (singular), the winter quarters. This pyramid-roofed structure was the home of 18 explorers from 1912, as well as seven others, including Sir Douglas who stayed unplanned for a second year. There are two parts to the hut: the living and workshop. The hut was prefabricated in Australia and shipped to Australia. They were then erected by the expedition. Experts are trying to preserve the historic home of these brave explorers by locating a wool balclava among the artifacts found at the site. Outside Mawson’s Hut, Dr. Ian Godfrey is the Conservator. (Image: facebook.com/MawsonsHutsFoundation) Team aims to restore hut to its former glory Marty Passingham, expedition field leader, says their aim is to restore the hut to the state it was in in 1914, when Sir Douglas left. According to The Guardian, Mr. Passingham stated that they had made a promising beginning and hope to have a lot of the ice and snow gone and artifacts revealed by the conclusion of their expedition. This is what Sir Douglas was known for after he alone walked the 100-miles across the polar icecap. He did this without the help of any other people. His ship, the Aurora, had left Antarctica by the time he reached Cape Denison. Marty Passingham on Mawson’s Hut’s roof on a still-day. (Image: facebook.com/MawsonsHutsFoundation) Ian Godfrey, the Foundation’s head conservator, said they uncovered several personal items and supplies used by the AAE, including a broom, boots, boxes and cans (apart from the balaclava). The balaclava was mentioned by Dr. Godfrey as a highlight. It was the Mawson-style, wool balaclava. Work at the site has been halted three times due to Blizzards. Team members must stay at their camp close to the hut when the weather turns bad. (Image: facebook.com/MawsonsHutsFoundation) Mr. Pssingham said: “We prepare by making sure everything is tied down in preparation and we have enough food, fuel and gas supplies close at hand to ride it out for a couple of days.” Video – Sir Douglas Mawson’s lone trek across Antarctic ice This National Geographic video talks about Sir Douglas Mawson’s lone 95-mile trek across Antarctic ice battling hunger, deadly crevasses and dire circumstances.
