Antarctic Tasmania

Developing Tasmania's Antarctic Sector

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean has been identified as a key trade and investment sector for Tasmania in the Economic Development Plan. 
               
Capitalising on Tasmania’s existing strengths in the Antarctic sector; Developing Tasmania’s Antarctic Sector, A Vibrant Industry in a Global Market was launched by the Minister for Economic Development, David O’Byrne on 21 October 2011.

For Developing Tasmania’s Antarctic Sector, A Vibrant Industry in a Global Market click here.

For the Action Plan click here.

The Antarctic Centennial Year (ACY) 2011-2012 in Hobart, Tasmania

In the world of Antarctic history, science and research, we often refer to an ‘Antarctic year’ which runs from June to June – that is, from midwinter to midwinter.  An Antarctic season generally opens with the first stirring of spring, leads into the busy summer and comes to an end as the hard-frozen night of polar winter descends again.  In the coming Antarctic year, here in Tasmania, a number of important events will take place:

• In May, 2011, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) will meet in Hobart for its annual conference.  The organisation, founded in 1991, exists to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to the Antarctic.
• The 3rd International Forum on the Sub-Antarctic in August 2011 will bring together scientists, academics and administrators to discuss the future of the Sub-Antarctic region, its global significance and value.  The venue is the Hobart headquarters of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
• In December 2011, Tasmania will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which departed the Hobart docks in 1911 to sail to Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay, establishing Australia’s first foothold on the Antarctic continent.
• Also in December 2011, the National Archives of Australia (NAA), in cooperation with the Australian Antarctic Division, will launch ‘Australians in Antarctica’, an important new exhibition at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.  After its debut in Hobart, the exhibition will tour Australia for four years.
• In March of 2012, Hobart will honour the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen’s historic telegram from the Hobart Post Office to the King of Norway, announcing that he had reached the South Pole, the first human being to do so. The well-known ABC broadcaster Tim Bowden will visit Hobart to mark the event – his grandfather was the telegraph clerk who received the message and transmitted it.
• In June 2012, more than 300 representatives of 47 countries will gather in Hobart for the prestigious 35th meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, the annual forum for signatories of the international treaty which preserves Antarctica for ‘peace and science’.

In response to this extraordinary year, and to acknowledge Hobart’s unique status as Australia’s Antarctic gateway, public and private sector organisations and agencies have come together to plan the Antarctic Centennial Year (ACY).  Based on these key dates, an exciting calendar of Antarctic themed exhibitions, symposia, art works and social events is under development.  The calendar of events will be available online in early 2011. An advisory group comprising representatives of the Australian Antarctic Division, the National Archives of Australia, Antarctic Tasmania, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Tasmanian Polar Network, Hobart City Council, the Mawson’s Huts Foundation and others has been formed to assist with planning and communications.

For further information, contact:

Paul Cullen
Cultural Events Manager
Antarctic Tasmania, Science and Research
GPO Box 646, Hobart,  TAS 7001
Email: paul.cullen@development.tas.gov.au
Telephone: (+61) 3 6233 3170

Antarctic Centennial Year (ACY) website launched

A new website containing information about the program of educational, historical and cultural events celebrating the Antarctic Centennial Year (ACY) has been launched.

Check the website out at www.antarcticcentennial.tas.gov.au. Add it to your ‘favourites’ and send this link to your friends everywhere encouraging them to get involved.

As well as promoting an exciting calendar of events, the website also details a number of high-profile international conferences to be hosted in Hobart during the ACY.

This new website will be of interest to scientists, academics, policy makers, artists, students and the members of the general public with a fascination for the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.

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