Macquarie Island Station

Macquarie Island Station is a research facility at the northern end of Macquarie Island, positioned between two bays and housing laboratories and communication centers for environmental and climate studies. The facility comprises multiple buildings designed to accommodate up to 40 people during summer months and around 16 during winter.

The station was established in 1948 as part of the Australian Antarctic Program and has served as a key research hub in the sub-Antarctic region since then. Over more than seven decades, it has grown into a permanent outpost focused on climate monitoring and environmental observation.

The station supports a tight-knit community of researchers who share daily routines and adapt to the isolated sub-Antarctic setting together. Life here revolves around collaborative work, shared meals, and mutual support needed to thrive in such a remote location.

The site is best visited during the summer months when conditions are milder and the facility is more active with additional staff. Getting around involves walking between buildings on a windswept island, so appropriate gear for extreme weather is essential.

The station operates surrounded by massive penguin and seal colonies while collecting real-time climate data that feeds into global monitoring systems. This close overlap of human research and animal life makes the place a rare window into polar nature at work.

Location: Macquarie Island

Inception: January 1, 1948

Operator: Australian Antartic Division

Address: Australia

Website: https://antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/macquarie-island

GPS coordinates: -54.49891,158.93786

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04