Law Base

Law Base was named in honour of the first director of ANARE, Dr Phillip Law and is located near the site were Law first landed in 1958. The base was established on February 5th 1986 and further developed during 1986/87.

The actual site for the base was selected by the Larsemann Hills Scientific Survey in February 1986 and the first "apple" hut was delivered by helicopter from Nella Dan at that time.

In October 1986 three additional huts (one "apple", one "melon" and a large prefabricated metal shed) were transported over the sea ice from Davis Station by Hagglunds all-terrain vehicles towing sleds.

The base was further expanded with two additional "melon" huts and a small metal shed during Nella Dan's visit in January 1987. The images in this album are from the January 1987 visit.

In 2005 a 10 year Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Australia and Romania for joint use of the base; it henceforth became known as Law Racovita Base.

The base currently comprises of two Apple huts, three Melon huts, a large prefabricated hut and a small metal shed and can accommodate 13 persons. HF and VHF radio antennas are permanently on the site.

Nella Dan was named after Phillip Law's wife Nel, who was the first Australian woman to visit Antarctica. The much loved ship was scuttled in deep water off Macquarie Island in December 1987 after dragging her anchor and being driven aground during refuelling operations in Buckles Bay.

Nel Law died in 1990 aged 75. Phillip Law died in 2010 aged 97. In June 2011 their ashes were interred at a ceremony at West Arm overlooking Horseshoe Harbour at Mawson.