At Kingston, 16 kilometres south of Hobart, is the home of the Australian government agency that administers Australian Antarctic Territory and subantarctic Heard and Macdonald Islands, along with the Australian research program for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Inside the front entrance of the Australian Antarctic Division's headquarters is an Antarctic exhibition featuring some spectacular photography explaining the Australian Antarctic research program. A library and a cafeteria are open to public visitors on weekdays.

The first Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) left Melbourne for Heard and Macquarie Islands in the summer of 1947-48. In 1949 Dr Phillip Law was appointed the first permanent director of the Australian Antarctic Division (and head of ANARE). In 1954 Australia's first Antarctic station, Mawson, was established, followed by Davis in 1957. In 1959 Australia took over the United States Wilkes base, which was transferred to nearby Casey in 1969.

In 1980 the headquarters of Australia's Antarctic program moved from Melbourne to Hobart, the start of a concentration in Hobart of Antarctic research, logistics and policy development that continues to this day.

If you have a fast broadband internet connection, you can also view the media-rich version of this Pathways site, which includes an audio narrative and slideshow.