The Australasian Antarctic Expedition base at Commonwealth Bay (67°S 142°E), also known as ‘Mawson's Huts’ include some of the earliest buildings in Antarctica. The prefabricated timber buildings of Oregon beams and Baltic Pine (Pinus sylvestris) claddings were erected in January 1912 and were occupied for two years: they are thus approximately contemporary with the better known Scott and Shackleton huts near McMurdo Base in the Ross Sea.

The expedition was led by Dr Douglas Mawson, later Professor Sir Douglas Mawson, and its inspiration was scientific rather than a race to the South Pole. The buildings and artefacts remaining on the headland, also called Cape Denison, reflect considerable scientific achievement in geology, upper atmosphere physics, surveying, meteorology and biology and the site constitutes an important monument in the early exploration of this remote and inhospitable continent.

While the huts are of recent date, the rapid rate of deterioration due to the extreme climate means there is some urgency to developing a method of preserving the building. The timbers have been seriously worn, or ‘corraded’ by snow particles carried in the katabatic winds. These winds can exceed 300km per hour, sometimes for days. The isolation of the site, accessible by sea for only three months of the year adds to the logistical difficulties. There has been considerable public debate in Australia about which method of preservation is appropriate.

The author, a materials conservator and industrial chemist, visited the site in December 1985 and has been studying the problems of the site as a postgraduate student for the past year.