The Mawson’s Huts Foundation Seminar is an annual seminar series that brings together leading authorities in cultural heritage programmes to discuss and absorb developments in the Foundation’s Programme and International Antarctic Heritage initiatives. It invites contributions from individuals, Government, Industry and Academia.
CONSERVATION SEMINAR A GREAT SUCCESS!
With a contingent of four from the New Zealand hut conservation program and some excellent presentations including our recent heritage expedition reports, it was a great day of sharing information and approaches to the challenges of conserving the wooden huts of the Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration. And an inspiring start to planning the works program for next summer, preliminary details of which were discussed on the day after the seminar with heritage specialists including architects, conservators, carpenters, scientists and representatives of the Foundation and the Australian Antarctic Division.
The next step is for a draft of the works plan to be developed, a team to be selected to carry out the work, shipping arrangements to be confirmed and the big list of tasks leading up to departure in early December to be worked through. Keep an eye on the Conservation Expedition section of this website for progress as we head for December.
2009 CONSERVATION SEMINAR April 30th Sydney
Each year the Mawson’s Huts Foundation hosts a Seminar to review the past season’s conservation work and invite comment from members of the public on future work at the Historic Site. This year, presentations will include an illustrated lecture by Dr Ian Godfrey, Chief Conservator and Leader of the recent expedition, footage of highlights of the expedition by the official photographer, David London and a presentation by Dr Chris Henderson who led the search for the air tractor. The Foundation is also happy to welcome Dr David Harrowfield from the UK Heritage Trust who will put the Australian conservation effort in context with the work of other nations to conserve Antarctic heritage huts.
This year the Seminar was held at The Australian Museum, corner of College and William Streets, Level four, William St entrance, 9 am to 4 pm.
Sydney Seminar 2008
CONSERVING AUSTRALIA’S ANTARCTIC HERITAGE
The Conservation of Mawson’s Huts – Proposed Works 2007-11
Tuesday April 2008
Australian Museum, Sydney
Corner College Street and William Street
(Seminar: Level four, William Street entrance)
AGENDA
0900: Registration, tea and coffee
0930: Opening
Master of Ceremonies – Greg Holland Mawson’s Huts Foundation Director
Introduction and Welcome – David Jensen CEO/Chairman, Mawson’s Huts Foundation (15 mins)
0945: The 2007-8 Conservation Expedition
Shooting the Past (and Present), Visualising Mawson’s Huts
– Dr Peter Morse, Computer Visualization Specialist on the 2007/8 Expedition. (15 mins)
1000: The 2007-8 Conservation Expedition Reports
Field Leader’s Report
- Peter McCabe – Field Leader (15 mins)
Conservation Program
- Archaeologist – Anne McConnell (10 mins)
- Conservator – Michelle Berry (10 mins)
- Question time
1100 : 1120 Morning tea
1120: The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust New Zealand season 2007/8
- Nigel Watson, Executive Director (15 mins)
1135: Working on Shackleton’s Hut
- Ted Bugg, Veteran Foundation Mawon’s Huts Foundation Expeditioner (10 mins)
1145: The Environmental Monitoring program – What a difference a roof makes
- Vinod Daniel, Australian Museum (10 mins)
1155 : The Gifts to the Nation Project
– Bruce Hull, Heritage Coordinator AAD (10 mins)
1230 – 1330 Lunch
1330: When the conservation program is completed, what will visitors to Mawson’s Huts Historic Site five years later, see?
- Julian Bickersteth, Managing Director International Conservation Services (15 mins + discussion).
1355: Thoughts on the 2008-9 Conservation Program
- Dr Ian Godfrey, Conservator WA Maritime Museum and Adrian Welke, Heritage Architect Troppo Architects WA (20 mins).
1415: Global Climate Change in Antarctica – implications for the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site
- (Presenter to be advised) (15 mins).
1430: Managing Antarctic Tourism
- Tom Maggs, Manager, Policy Coordination Branch AAD (10 mins).
1440: The 2008-9 Conservation Expedition Planning
- Rob Easther, Expedition Manager, Mawson’s Huts Foundation (5 mins).
1500 – 1530 Afternoon tea
1530: Recovery of the AAE’s Air Tractor
– Dr Tony Stewart
- Question Time (30 mins)
1600: Summary and Wrap up
– Greg Holland and David Jensen
1630 : Close
1730 : Special Event
Visit to AVIE 360º Stereoscopic VR Environment at iCinema Centre, University of New South Wales. Presentation of Immersive VR imaging of Mawson’s Huts by Peter Morse.
