- Hut constructed February 1902 of Australian jarrah wood from a design popular
in the Outback for its ability to remain cool in the Outback heat.
- Too cold to live in, hut was used for storage, laboratory, emergency shelter
and theater.
- Vince, member of Cape Crozier Message Party, died after slipping off Danger
Slopes in a storm trying to get to Hut Point. Hare survived 36 hours in the
same storm by letting snow cover him and staying put.
- Scott and Wilson aided a scurvy-ridden Shackleton back to Hut Point after
their Southern Journey. Shackleton sent home as an invalid, thus beginning rivalry
with Scott.
- Expedition based at Cape Royds. Discovery hut used for storage and as advance
base for Shackleton's Pole attempt.
- First expedition to reach South Magnetic Pole, first ascent of Mt. Erebus
and Shackleton, Wild, Adams and Marshall came within 100 miles of the South
Pole before having to turn back due to lack of food.
- Marshall collapsed from starvation and exhaustion 33 miles from Hut Point
2 days before Nimrod was to leave McMurdo Sound. Shackleton and Wild marched
non-stop for 18 hours to reach the Point to flag down the ship before it left.
Attempted to burn small outbuilding from Discovery days to signal ship. Ship
returned and Shackleton led party to rescue Adams and Marshall.
- Expedition based at Cape Evans. Discovery Hut used as advance camp for all
southern journeys.
- Hut found full of snow and ice after Shackleton's use.
- Hut occupied by 16 men from March 5 to April 21, 1911 after returning from
Depot Journey to lay supplies for the next year's Pole attempt. Largest group
ever to live in Hut.
- Wilson, Bowers and Cherry-Garrard spent one night in Hut returning from mid-winter
Cape Crozier Journey.
- Hut occupied for short periods between January 4 and May 1, 1912 by parties
returning from Pole
journey and parties going south to look for Scott .
- Crean, of the Last Returning Party, walked 35 miles in 18 hours across heavily
crevassed terrain to get help at Hut Point for the scurvy-ridden Lt. Evans.
- Hut used as advance base for Search Journey which found bodies of Scott, Wilson
and Bowers.
- Hut occupied January 20-21,1913 by 8 men building and erecting Memorial Cross
on Ob Hill.
- Expedition to lay depots across Ross Ice Shelf to assist Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic
Expedition, which was in the Weddell Sea aboard the Endurance.
- Anchor lines broke in a storm May 1915, Aurora and crew blown out to sea marooning
10 men with almost no food or equipment with which to carry out Depot Journey.
- Scrounging supplies from all huts, fabricating clothing and equipment and
surviving almost solely on seal meat, 6 men attempted Depot Journey leaving
4 men at Cape Evans.
- Entire Depot Party suffers scurvy, Spencer-Smith dies on return one day short
of Hut Point. Hayward and Mackintosh very sick but Joyce, Wild and Richards
get them to Hut Point.
- Men spend 2 months in Discovery Hut, half full of snow and ice, mostly huddled
around blubber stove while Mackintosh and Hayward recover.
- Only partially recovered, Mackintosh and Hayward attempt to reach Cape Evans
travelling over newly formed, very thin sea ice. Storm blows out sea ice. The
two are never seen again.
- Three surviving members of Depot Journey spend another 2 months at Discovery
Hut, eventually
return to Cape Evans July 1916. Party rescued by Shackleton, January 1917.
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