Celebrating the sounds and expeditioners of Antarctica
Published on 18 October 2022
THE City of Hobart will come alive with the bustle of adventure and expeditioners with the start of the Antarctic season.
The icy continent is not only a place of fascination and work for scientists and tradespeople, but for many across the community, including renowned composer and conductor Gordon Hamilton.
He turned his trip to Antarctica into Far South, a beautiful piece of music premiered in 2020 by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which has also been performed by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
“I wrote Far South during and after a trip to Casey Station, Antarctica on board the icebreaker Aurora Australis,” Mr Hamilton said.
“Recordings of birds, whales, ice melting and the Icebreaker interact with the orchestra.
“It was almost like a dream, it was very beautiful and unusual experience, something I knew was one of a kind when I was doing it.
“There was almost no internet available on the ship or the station, so it was about being in nature and around the other scientists and workers and being part of a community. It was an incredibly positive and beautiful experience, it was unforgettable.
“I was very aware of what a wonderful opportunity it was. Every day I was thinking about how I could turn the landscape into sounds – it directly affected me and my work.
“When I hear the music now, it instantly takes me back to Antarctica.”
Mr Hamilton will conduct Far South at Tuesday night’s official season launch.
Aside from the cultural and scientific benefits of the season opening, Hobart’s moniker as the gateway to the Antarctic also brings serious economic benefits to the City and Tasmania.
More than 400 expeditioners will leave Hobart for Antarctica this season.
It helps reap the state $160m a year and employs more than 950 people while Hobart is home to the highest concentration of Antarctic and marine scientists in the world.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said how critical the scientific research that goes on in Antarctica was for managing climate change.
“Australia’s international reputation as an Antarctic leader in science and research is heavily reliant upon Hobart, its location, and the concentration of Antarctic activity that occurs here,” Cr Reynolds said.
“Hobart is one of only five cities in the world where Antarctica can be accessed, we are the leading gateway to the Southern Ocean and east Antarctica.”
Cr Reynolds said the capital’s world leading Antarctic sector was why the City of Hobart continues to strongly lobby for urgent repair and upgrade of the Port of Hobart and a commitment and development of a new Antarctic and Science precinct at Macquarie Point.
“Funding to repair the Port and create a dedicated polar wharf is essential infrastructure for Hobart’s economic future and we’re extremely concerned to see this work start without delay,” she said.
“We’re also hoping to see a kick-start to the Antarctic and Science Precinct at Macquarie Point, which will enhance our brand as Australia’s city of science."