Casey Station

Casey Station
Antarctic base
Casey Station, viewed from the air.
Casey Station Location of Casey Station in Antarctica
Coordinates: 66°16′54″S 110°31′28″E / 66.28167°S 110.52444°E / -66.28167; 110.52444Coordinates: 66°16′54″S 110°31′28″E / 66.28167°S 110.52444°E / -66.28167; 110.52444
Country	Australia
Territory	Australian Antarctic Territory
Subdivision	Wilkes Land
Administered by	Australian Antarctic Division
Established	February 1969 (1969-02)
Named for	Richard, Baron Casey
Population
• Total	Summer: 150-160 Winter: 16-20
Time zone	CAST (UTC+11)
Type	All year-round
Period	Annual
Status	Operational
Facilities	Facilities include: Wilkins airstrip Accommodation with private bedrooms and shared bathrooms Communal living area with indoor climbing, a home theatre, a gym, a photographic dark room, a library and communal sitting areas Meteorological Centre Hydroponics building (lettuce, green vegetables, tomatoes and fresh herbs are grown)
Website	aad.gov.au

The Casey Station, commonly called Casey, is one of three permanent bases and research outposts in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Casey lies on the northern side of the Bailey Peninsula overlooking Vincennes Bay on the Budd Coast of Wilkes Land in the Australian Antarctic Territory, a territory claimed by Australia. Casey is 3,880 kilometres (2,410 mi) due south of Perth, Western Australia.

Casey was named in honour of Richard, Baron Casey.

Casey is close to the now-abandoned Wilkes Station established by the United States of America to support science and exploration of Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957–1958.

Australia took over Wilkes after the IGY, but the American buildings were already unusable due to the build-up of ice around them. Australia built the first Casey Base, originally as 'Repstat', referring to 'replacement station' on the opposite south side of the Newcomb Bay in 1964 with works completed in February 1969. This set of buildings was a unique attempt to prevent the problem of ice build-up by elevating the buildings on stilts, to encourage the wind to blow beneath as well as above, and connecting the entire line of buildings with a corrugated iron tunnel. This would, it was hoped, clear the buildup of snow each year, while allowing personnel to move between buildings without having to brave the elements. It worked for some time until corrosion occurred.

The current Casey Station headquarters (the "Red Shed") was built in the late 1980s as part of the Australian Government's Antarctic Re-building Program. It was prefabricated in Hobart, Tasmania by Hobart construction firm, Contas Pty Ltd, trial-erected on the wharf at Hobart, then dismantled, packaged and shipped to Antarctica. It was erected at Casey by tradespeople employed as workers on the normal summer expedition crews. It incorporates innovative design features to prevent the transfer of heat through the structure. The "Shed" is conspicuously located near the top of the hill on which the old radio masts stood. It is probably the largest single structure on Antarctica and was first occupied in 1988. Antarctica has two other sheds the green shed for storing their food, and the yellow shed for brewing. Homebrew beer is served at the station's bar, "Splinters".