80 years of an ever-evolving story
11/02/2024
Today – 11 February 2024 – our flagship site Port Lockroy celebrates its 80th birthday. Over the coming weeks, we will be celebrating in many ways but for now, what we really want to say today is thank you.
Our Antarctic team has been working tirelessly at Base A, Port Lockroy, repairing the roof and making it structurally sound for the future after last year’s record snowfall caused unprecedented damage. Our skilled heritage carpenters use traditional materials and techniques to repair and preserve the buildings’ authenticity. While they’ve had some help from the rest of the team on Goudier Island it’s thanks to your support that we can continue our work.
Every adoption, membership and donation we receive means our expert teams can deliver vital conservation work at Port Lockroy and across the heritage sites that we preserve. Sites such as Base A, Port Lockroy, would quickly deteriorate without your support.
The Port Lockroy team couldn't do it without you (Credit: UKAHT)
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been involved since we were entrusted with the care of Base A and other heritage sites. To all our collaborators, partners and friends within the polar and scientific communities here in the UK and in Antarctica, your continued support for our work is greatly appreciated. We look forward to many more years working closely together to ensure the preservation of Base A, Port Lockroy alongside our other special heritage sites on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Thank you from everyone at the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust.
80 years of an ever-evolving story
The location of our beloved penguin post office has been a safe anchorage since it was first named in 1903. For this reason, in 1944 it was selected as Base A – the first continuously occupied British base in Antarctica – as part of the secret wartime mission, Operation Tabarin. Over the ensuing years, Base A, Port Lockroy witnessed the birth of British Antarctic science while it operated as an atmospheric research base until 1962.
80 years of Port Lockroy in 80 seconds (Credit: UKAHT)
Abandoned for three decades, Base A was restored in 1996 with support from UKAHT, after which in 2006 we took over full management of the site. Since then, we’ve been welcoming visitors to the museum and the world’s southernmost public post office, while capturing important data on our resident gentoo colony.
From secret mission to penguin post office, Base A, Port Lockroy is an ever-evolving story. We can’t wait to hear what the next 80 years have to say.
Ask Port Lockroy
Do you have a question for the Port Lockroy team? They may be nearing the end of their season at the world’s southernmost post office but between stamping the final few postcards and packing up their holdalls, they have time to answer some of your questions.
As the Port Lockroy team anything (Credit: UKAHT)
Please visit our social channels to leave a question and they will share their answers over video as soon as they can.
Follow a unique colony at the end of the world
The gentoos of Port Lockroy are perhaps some of the most famous penguins in the world! The colony made their home with us on Goudier Island over 30 years ago and we have been studying and contributing to their protection ever since. Inquisitive, fluffy and funny, we love sharing their activity with everyone around the world.
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Every membership and donation we receive helps our expert teams deliver vital conservation work across the heritage sites that we preserve. Without your support, sites of great importance in Antarctica's history could quickly deteriorate, taking with them historic artefacts, tales of scientific advancement and human endeavour that inform how we, as a global community, view and value Antarctica today. With your help, we can continue to conserve this special continent to ensure its protection for years to come.
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