Scott’s cabin rescued from the brink

Date:  27 February 2013 Source:  Office of the Minister of Conservation

An historic cabin linked to Scott’s fatal Antarctic expedition has been rescued today from the brink of an earthquake-crumbled cliff top, says Minister of Conservation Dr Nick Smith.

The cabin began life as a meteorological hut taken to the Antarctic by the Terra Nova for Captain Scott in 1911. It was brought back to Lyttelton in 1912, still in its wrapping, and erected on Clifton Hill above Sumner in the garden of the expedition agent Sir Joseph Kinsey. It then became home to the wife of Captain Scott’s right hand-man Dr Edward Wilson, Oriana Wilson, for a year until she received the news of his death in February 1913.

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The cabin is moved to what will hopefully will be its final resting place at Godley Head

For the past 40 years it has been under the care of the Crichton family in Sumner, who have now vested it with the Department of Conservation.

“This year is the centenary of the return of the Terra Nova expedition and today DOC retrieved the cabin from Kinsey Terrace and trucked it to Godley Head.

“If those cabin walls could talk it could tell many a tale of Antarctic exploration and adventure as well as provide insight into the life of a woman who waited in vain for her husband’s return from Scott’s expedition.

“For a building to have travelled so far and survived so much, it would have been a tragedy to have left it to be demolished. Its journey today has taken it to what hopefully will be its final resting place on public conservation land at Godley Head, where it will be restored and made available for generations to come.

“I’d like to acknowledge the Crichton’s vision and generosity in gifting the hut, as well as the assistance provided by CERA and the Christchurch City Council in making the removal possible.”

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