Christmas Postcards from Antarctica
Donate to spread holiday cheer with a postcard from the world’s southernmost post office
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Hurry! Last date for orders is Sunday 7 July to catch the boat
The penguin post office at Port Lockroy, on a football pitch-sized island on the Antarctic peninsula, was opened in 1944. It began with a secret mission to establish the first permanent British base on the continent. This outpost was known as Base A and the basic wooden hut as Bransfield House. Scientists stationed there laid the foundations for the vitally important science that happens in Antarctica today. In 1996, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust opened the site as a post office and museum.
For eight decades this special building has endured winter after winter but, with protective paint peeling and structural wooden beams deteriorating, we need your help now to undertake essential repairs and maintenance. You can help to support the conservation work by sending your very own festive Postcard from Antarctica this year.
By making a one-off donation of £20 to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, you can add your message to our limited edition Christmas postcard. At Port Lockroy we will place a special pictoral British Antarctic Territory postage stamp on your card, mark it with our penguin post office stamp and send it on its way to you or a loved one at an address anywhere worldwide supporting the repairs at the same time.
We need to raise over £30,000 to enable the conservation efforts this year. You can play a part in Antarctica by sending your postcard, making a donation or sharing this story with your friends. Thank you. -
Frequently Asked Questions
How does my postcard reach its destination?
Your postcard will be shipped to the Falkland Islands with our supplies for the season in August. In early November it will travel by ship to Port Lockroy. After adding stamps and hand-cancelling, the card will be added to a mail bag. The bags are taken by ship to the post office back in Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory. The mail is hand-sorted there by country before boarding the twice-weekly plane to RAF Brize Norton in the UK. Once in the UK, your postcard will be sent on to its destination via Royal Mail.
When will my postcard arrive?
This is certainly not instant messaging! When the team arrive in Antarctica in November, they will process and send your card on its way. It will take a minimum of 6 weeks from then to arrive. We therefore can’t guarantee that your postcard will reach its destination in time for 25 December. However, we are going to do our best!
Can I send multiple postcards?
Yes, you can do this on the same order by adding name, address and message for each.
How many postcards are you sending?
Only 1000 ‘Christmas Postcards from Antarctica’ will be sent this season. All proceeds will support the urgent repairs needed at Port Lockroy.
Where can I find out more about the ‘penguin post office’?
Read about the story of Port Lockroy and our other heritage sites at www.ukaht.org/heritage.
Something’s not working
Send an email to our friendly team at info@ukaht.org or call +44 (0)1223 355049.
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The penguin post office at Port Lockroy, on a football pitch-sized island on the Antarctic peninsula, was opened in 1944. It began with a secret mission to establish the first permanent British base on the continent. This outpost was known as Base A and the basic wooden hut as Bransfield House. Scientists stationed there laid the foundations for the vitally important science that happens in Antarctica today. In 1996, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust opened the site as a post office and museum.
For eight decades, this special building has endured winter after winter but, with protective paint peeling and structural wooden beams deteriorating, we need your help now to undertake essential repairs and maintenance. You can help to support the conservation work by sending your very own festive Postcard from Antarctica this year.
By making a one-off donation of £20 to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, you can add your message to our limited edition Christmas postcard. At Port Lockroy we will place a special pictoral British Antarctic Territory postage stamp on your card, mark it with our penguin post office stamp and send it on its way to you or a loved one at an address anywhere worldwide supporting the repairs at the same time.
We need to raise over £30,000 to enable the conservation efforts this year. You can play a part in Antarctica by sending your postcard, making a donation or sharing this story with your friends. Thank you.
