The world’s most southerly public post office is on an Antarctic island home to large colony of around 1,000 gentoo penguins – which is how it earned its moniker of the ‘penguin post office’.
Port Lockroy is a bay and former British military base on Goudier Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula.
Despite its remote location, the post office processes around 70,000 cards (the majority sent by tourists) to over 100 countries.
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‘Base A’ Port Lockroy was designated as Historic Site and Monument No. 61 under the Antarctic Treaty after 1994.
It was first established during World War II by the British military and later became a scientific research station until 1962.
In 1996, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) funded a team to renovate the buildings on the site. Since then, the site has been open to visitors during the Antarctic summer (November to March).
The site, which includes the post office and museum, is managed by the charity UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT).
A colony of gentoo penguins have made Goudier Island their home since the 1980s. While this many not initially seem a particularly large number, it is considering the size of the island: around the same size as a football pitch.
Each year, volunteers count the penguins as parts of wider conservation efforts.
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Remote working
Port Lockroy has been staffed since 2006.
Each year, the UKAHT advertises several roles on the island, such as a base leader, general assistant and shop manager.
But be warned – there’s no running water, almost constant daylight and very limited phone and internet connection on the island. You’re also likely to be sharing a bunk room with several others for five months.
However, you will be rewarded with unprecedented views (and some small, though noisy, neighbours). For a glimpse of island life, take a look at the photos captured below.
