2017 Historic Huts of the Ross Dependency

Single $1.00 'Scott’s Discovery Hut' gummed stamp.

Scott established this base for the National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition 1901–1904. It was the first hut to be erected on Ross Island and became an important staging post for every subsequent heroic-era expedition. Built of Douglas fir and Scots pine, it was designed in Australia and resembles an outback house with large verandas. The hut turned out to be too hard to heat so the men lived aboard the Discovery and used the hut for scientific observations and other work.  

Single $2.00 'Man’s Best Friend, Discovery Hut' gummed stamp.

A nip of Cognac would undoubtedly have been welcome after being out in the harsh Antarctic environment. The hut was used to store supplies for the 47 men and their animals. Spratt’s dog biscuits, preserved cabbage, mutton carcasses, baking powder, oatmeal, gooseberry jam, cocoa, and split peas were just some of the still preserved items found during conservation work on the hut. Many of the provisions had been taken on board in Lyttelton, the New Zealand port from which Discovery sailed for Antarctica.  

Single $2.20 'Shackleton’s Nimrod Hut' gummed stamp.

Sir Ernest Shackleton landed at Cape Royds on 3 February 1908 on his expedition ship Nimrod. Prevented by thick sea ice from reaching Ross Island’s Hut Point, he settled for this site, 32 kilometres further north. The men built the hut in just 10 days. Made of fir, it was pre-fabricated in London and was able to be insulated with cork. It was sited in a sheltered area below a ridge of volcanic rock, with Mt Erebus towering over it in the distance.  

Single $2.30 'Thank You Mrs Sam, Nimrod Hut' gummed stamp.

Mrs Sam’s stove was kept going 24 hours a day and provided enough heat to keep the temperature inside the hut at 16–21 degrees celsius. The stove burned anthracite coal and used less than 254 kilograms per week. It certainly improved the men’s living conditions, making it possible to provide hot meals and fresh bread every day, hot baths, and the ability to dry their clothes. Sufficient ice could be melted for the daily needs of the men and the ponies.  

Single $2.70 'Scott’s Terra Nova Hut' gummed stamp.

The Terra Nova Hut at Cape Evans (named after Scott’s ship) is from where Scott and his Polar Party departed in their quest to be the first to reach the Geographic South Pole. Scott reached his goal only to find that the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had got there first. This is the largest of the historic huts and it has come to symbolise the hardship and heroism of early Antarctic exploration.  

Single $3.30 'Dearest, Terra Nova Hut' gummed stamp.

The expedition had its own post office, approved by the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, but letters were collected and delivered only once a year, when the ship returned from New Zealand after the winter. Expedition members often wrote letters back home. Family and friends were told about day-to-day life, whereas business partners and scientific advisers were sent updates on the progress of the expedition. The embossed, printed crest on this envelope reads: ‘British Antarctic Expedition Terra Nova R.Y.S.’ 

The epic achievements of Scott and Shackleton were covered in even more detail in this remarkable presentation pack. Sean Garwood’s paintings were revealed in their full glory with extra detail about the subject of each artwork. This presentation pack was a splendid collectable for anyone interested in the history of Antarctica, exploration or striking works of art. The pack contained a set of stamps, miniature sheet and first day cover.

The Antarctic Heritage Trust played a huge part in putting together this stamp issue. The copy in this limited edition was written by them, so all of the content was of very high quality. This limited edition contained all six stamps, a colour separation of the $3.30 stamp, and a specially numbered first day cover that had been signed by Nigel Watson, the Executive Director of the Antarctic Heritage Trust.