Casey - a brief history
Wilkes wintering party 1958
Photo: R.Glasgal |
Australia took over operation of the United States-built Wilkes Station on Clark Peninsula in January 1959, two years after it was opened.
It soon became evident that Wilkes would be buried by deepening snowdrifts which were turning to ice and threatening the structure of the buildings. As a consequence work commenced in 1964 on a replacement Station called 'Repstat' which was located about two kilometres south of the original site on the shores of the Bailey Peninsula.
When fully operational in February 1969, 'Repstat' was renamed 'Casey' in honour of the Governor General at the time, Lord Casey. He had been a staunch supporter of Australia"s fledgling Antarctic program through the 1950"s and in the 1960"s.
Casey was a novel concept in Antarctic Stations at the time with living and sleeping quarters, and some work buildings, in a straight line and connected on the windward side by an aerodynamic corrugated iron tunnel. All were elevated on scaffolding pipe to allow the flow-through of the violent winds so common in the region.
Casey 'Repstat' tunnel 1970.
AAD photograph by G. Suchan (1455-C4)
Unfortunately, sea-spray laden winds took their toll on the Casey tunnel, causing major corrosion and expensive heat losses in its later years.
By the mid 70"s, Australia's Antarctic Stations (Casey, Mawson and Davis) were becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and a major rebuilding program was planned for the 1980"s. New Stations were constructed with a steel frame on concrete foundations and an external skin of 100 mm thick panels of steel clad polystyrene foam.
They were designed to provide a great degree of comfort and safety, and to incorporate state-of-the-art facilities in support of the science programs. Their bold colours and heavy construction provide a substantial statement of Australia"s presence and of its future in Antarctica.
The sixteen buildings of the present Casey Station were officially opened in December 1988. The previous tunnel station was finally decommissioned, demolished and returned to Australia in March 1989.
The original Wilkes Station is now largely buried. The transmitter hut (the Wilkes Hilton) remains as a field hut. The old station has heritage status. Removal of ANY material is prohibited.
The first women to serve as ANARE expeditioners on the Antarctic continent were three scientists based at Casey Station in 1976.
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