Whalers Bay Graffiti
20/12/2024
An update on the incident of graffiti on a historic building at Whalers Bay, Deception Island.
We are aware of an incident of graffiti on a historic building at Whalers Bay on Deception Island, Antarctica. As a protected Historic Site and Monument (No. 71) this is a site of great historical significance; both as the location of a Norwegian whaling station in the early 20th century and also later in the 1950s as a British scientific base for meteorology and geology.
All at UK Antarctic Heritage Trust are deeply shocked and saddened by this senseless and irresponsible vandalism; an act showing great disregard for both the historical significance of the site and the Antarctic environment. We are hopeful those responsible will be pursued and held to account by the relevant authorities.
We are leading the planning for the removal of the graffiti, consulting with experts in graffiti and heritage here in the UK and working with the authorities and collaborators on the ground to carefully remove the paint and reinstate the building to its previous condition. We are working to achieve this as soon as practically possible and are currently considering the most effective and appropriate methodology, applying our usual rigorous conservation standards to care for the building and the environment in which it stands. We are grateful to our partners in Antarctica, particularly IAATO and its members, BAS and the FCDO for their support.
We continue to encourage all visitors to Antarctica to leave no trace so we can carefully protect this precious wilderness and its remarkable history for generations to come.
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