Saving Hillary’s Hut

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Hillary’s Hut at Scott Base in Antarctica was built for the Commonwealth expedition crossing Antarctica in 1957. Recent conservation work has restored this iconic building, with a little help from BRANZ.

Hillary’s Hut restored back to its original state.
Raising the New Zealand flag at Scott Base, 20 January 1957.
Hillary’s Hut before major conservation started.
Corrosion was stabilised on the two cast iron stoves.
The mess was repainted in its original colours and the artefacts conserved.

ANTARCTIC HERITAGE Trust’s team of 12 worked more than 5,700 hours to restore Sir Edmund Hillary’s Hut at Scott Base over the 2016/17 summer season. The work started in November 2016 following a campaign to save the iconic building.

Raising the New Zealand flag at Scott Base, 20 January 1957.

Restored in time for 60th anniversary

The government and Antarctica New Zealand asked the Trust to take on the care and conservation of the hut, including raising funds for its restoration and long-term maintenance. A conservation plan was launched in 2015, and with extensive logistical support from Antarctica New Zealand, the hut’s conservation was completed in time for Scott Base’s 60th anniversary celebrations in January 2017.

‘Hillary’s Hut is the birthplace of Kiwi leadership in Antarctica. It’s where Sir Ed began his famous tractor trip to the South Pole and is Scott Base’s first building,’ says Nigel Watson, the Trust’s Executive Director.

Hillary’s Hut restored back to its original state.

History of Hillary’s Hut

Scott Base was established to enable New Zealand’s involvement in the Common–wealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and the International Geophysical Year.

In 1957, a five-man construction team began building on 12 January, and on 20 January, Scott Base was declared officially open.

A party of 23 men, led by Sir Edmund Hillary, then wintered over. Their goal was to lay supply depots from the Ross Sea towards the South Pole for Vivian Fuchs who was crossing the continent from the Weddell Sea.

Hillary’s Hut is situated on the outer southwestern side of the base, standing separately but visually still a part of the Scott Base buildings.

By 1989, it was no longer a functional part of Scott Base and was scheduled for demolition. However, there was a growing interest in preserving it, and the hut was moved 40 m towards the shore. In 2001, the hut was listed as a historic monument, recognising its significance in the history of Antarctic exploration.

Hillary’s Hut before major conservation started.

Building conservation programme

Extensive planning and research was undertaken by the Trust in preparation for the conservation work. Faults identified included leaks in the roof, snow ingress into the outer porch, meltwater pooling under the hut, diesel in the flooring and the presence of asbestos.

Major conservation work was undertaken:

  • Removing the asbestos wall and ceiling linings.
  • Reconfiguring the cold porch to be historically accurate. The team removed the 1980s cold porch from the hut, retaining the original covered walkway for reuse with a new cold porch and junction box constructed to the original specifications.
  • Upgrading foundation timbers and hold-down cables. Some 30 anchors to support the hut’s rigging were installed.
  • Removing and reconstructing the partitions to the radio room and Hillary’s office that were carried out after the hut’s relocation in 1989.
  • Repairing roof leaks.
  • Repairing and reinstating nine chimney flues.
  • Painting the interior and exterior of the building.
  • Upgrading the building’s electrical services and fire alarm system.

Dulux worked with the Trust to recreate the original paint colours and gave the restoration team the honour of naming the colours. They called the yellow Pram Point after the geographic location of Scott Base and the orange Sno-Cat after the bright orange tracked vehicles used in Antarctica in 1957.

Care was taken to retain and reinstate original building materials such as trims after the asbestos was removed. Where new material was essential, such as new wall linings to replace the asbestos board, modern material was chosen that was as close as possible to the original finish and appearance.

Corrosion was stabilised on the two cast iron stoves.

Many challenges to overcome

The project involved diverse challenges. ‘It was difficult to make a temporary, flat-roofed, lightweight kitset building structurally sound and weathertight to withstand the harsh Antarctic environment,’ says Project Manager Al Fastier.

Exterior building work is only possible during summer and preferably during December and January when there is 24-hour daylight and a temperature range of –15 ±5°C.

Artefacts Programme Manager Lizzie Meek says, ‘The extreme weather conditions and cold temperatures can freeze or change the materials you’re working with, and you can’t exactly pop down to your local hardware shop to buy additional materials.’

One unforeseen task included removing a layer of ice discovered between the aluminium sheeting and the foam of the original roof. The asbestos removal also took longer than planned due to the amount of scraping required to remove adhered remnants.

The mess was repainted in its original colours and the artefacts conserved.

BRANZ providing advice

BRANZ is assisting the Trust’s conservation work by analysing and reporting on the climatic conditions on the ‘heroic era’ explorer bases the Trust cares for, as well as Hillary’s Hut.

The findings will guide conservation efforts by providing information on the locations in the building where the climatic conditions need improving to preserve the artefacts.

For more

Further images and time lapse footage of the hut’s restoration can be viewed at www.nzaht.org.

Download the PDF

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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.

Hillary’s Hut restored back to its original state.
Raising the New Zealand flag at Scott Base, 20 January 1957.
Hillary’s Hut before major conservation started.
Corrosion was stabilised on the two cast iron stoves.
The mess was repainted in its original colours and the artefacts conserved.

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