Scott Base founding father opens building named in his honour

Sir Edmund Hillary yesterday named the newest building in Antarctica - the Hillary Field Centre - at Scott Base, home of the New Zealand Antarctic programme.

The $4.7 million all-purpose warm store is the single largest construction project undertaken at the base. When completed it will provide a heated bulk stores facility and field operations support area.

It will also improve Antarctica New Zealand's ability to support large science field events and will signify the completion of Scott Base as a world-class research facility.

Antarctica NZ chief executive Lou Sanson said it was a great honour that Sir Edmund, who helped to construct the first building at Scott Base, the Trans-Antarctic Expedition hut, had agreed to have the newest building on base named after him.

"There's a nice symmetry about the founding father of Scott Base being here to see the final stage of his base completed. Naming our biggest and best building after Sir Edmund is a fitting tribute and reflects the high regard in which this great Antarctican is held by all of us," Mr Sanson said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said that since Scott Base was established in 1957, the Antarctic field support and storage operations had been housed in a variety of unheated buildings.

The centre will be ready to use next October.

- NZPA