WHAT:
Human Habitation in Antarctica – Borchgrevink’s Hut
WHERE:
Southern shore of Ridley Beach, ~1.7 km southwest of Cape Adare, Antarctica
LOCATION:
WHEN:
February 1899
WHO:
Carsten Borchgrevink & Crew
DETAILS:
A unique bronze World Origin Site plaque has reached Cape Adare, Antarctica, marking Borchgrevink’s hut as World Origin Site 0053. Delivered aboard the Heritage Adventurer on February 25, 2026, the plaque was presented by Al Fastier of the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust. This collaboration between World Origin Site .Org, Heritage Expeditions, and the Trust honours the 127-year legacy of the first human habitation on the continent.
In February 1899, Carsten Borchgrevink’s Southern Cross expedition erected these historic structures to survive the first-ever Antarctic overwintering. The main hut featured innovative interlocking boards and papier-mâché insulation, while the roof was weighted with coal bags and seal skins to withstand polar gales. A smaller secondary hut served as a medical store and Borchgrevink’s private study.
Connected by a roofline of sails and skins for wind protection, these buildings were essential to the expedition’s survival. Today, the placement of the plaque celebrates the ingenuity and bravery of the team that established this “World First” in the heart of the Antarctic wilderness.
LINKS:
World’s First Human Habitation in Antarctica – February 2026
On February 25, 2026, a unique bronze World Origin Site plaque arrived at Cape Adare, Antarctica, aboard the Heritage Adventurer. Presented at Borchgrevink’s hut by former Antarctic Heritage Trust director Al Fastier, the marker commemorates the 127th anniversary of the 1899 Southern Cross expedition, the first human habitation on the continent. This collaboration between World Origin Site .Org, Heritage Expeditions, and the Antarctic Heritage Trust honours Carsten Borchgrevink’s historic legacy and his team’s incredible world first.
