Macquarie Island Restoration !

We are well aware of Christmas Island to Australia's north, but few people could put their finger on the map and instantly identify Macquarie island, a mere dot in the sea between Tasmania and the vast Antarctic continent.

It was discovered by sealers in 1840 and as it was home to over a million penguins and about fifteen thousand elephant seals this valuable resource was plundered for the oil they contained.  Unfortunately the island faced a new threat when cats, rats and mice escaped from visiting ships and quickly decimated the local fauna.   Years later, the rabbit was introduced and their grazing destroyed both the " tussock " that covered the hills and what is known as the " Macquarie island cabbage ".  It became a desolate place before it was granted World Heritage status in 1997 and this started an Australian initiative to clean up the mess.

Macquarie island is just  34 kilometres long and 5.5 kilometres wide and it juts out of the ocean 1500 kilometres south of Hobart.   It was used as a radio base by Douglas Mawson during his epic  1911-14  Antarctic expedition and it was described as the " Galapagos of the South ".

A huge and very expensive baiting initiative has destroyed the rats, mice, cats and rabbits and the island has finally returned to its natural state.  Both the tussock and the cabbage are again  dominating the landscape and specially trained dogs inspect all supplies arriving on the island to ensure that no vermin gain re-entry.

This remarkable resurgence is watched over by a force of Australian rangers.   In winter they number about fourteen with that number doubling during the summer months.   It is a lonely posting and supplies are delivered by the Australian icebreaker during summer when the surrounding sea is navigable.  Rebuilding the station accommodation forms part of the $450 million plan to modernise Australia's four Antarctic stations.

Our presence in the deep south serves various scientific purposes including  monitoring radioactive particles  as part of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.   It seems that Macquarie island has a very special charm.  Despite the isolation, the ranger team seem ever ready to sign on for another winter in the deep south.