Factle

Have fun, while you are learning about our maritime history in Otago. Inspired by the worldwide puzzle “wordle”, we will post a close-up image of one of our collectables every Friday afternoon. During the following week, the image will gradually become clearer. Visit the museum to find the image or to talk with the volunteers. Or wait for the solution on Friday morning the following week.

Factle 28 August

Port Chalmers has a long historical association with Antarctica. The 1901–1904 British National Antarctic Expedition left Port Chalmers in December 1901 on the S.Y. Discovery. This was built by the Dundee Shipbuilders Company as a specialist research vessel designed for work in Antarctic waters and was one of the last three-masted wooden sailing ships built in Britain. The expedition launched the Antarctic reputations of many leading figures in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, including both Robert Falcon Scott who led the expedition, and Ernest Shackleton. Ask the museum volunteers to show you some of the Museum's exhibits relating to Antarctica, including this model of the S.Y. Discovery.