Sledge

'Nansen' pattern sledge used by Shackleton's 'Nimrod' expedition, 1908-09. This sledge is a remarkable relic of the ‘heroic age’ of Antarctic exploration. It is one of serveral made in Norway around 1907 for the famous Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. They were brought to New Zealand in 1917 with the rescued men of the ‘Ross Sea Party’ who had been stranded for nearly two years. The sledges and much other expedition equipment gear, including sledge dog pups were auctioned in Wellington in March 1917.

The sledges were purchased by Mr Edward Petherick for his private ‘Wellington Museum’ in Newtown. In 1929, the City Council took over the ‘Wellington Museum’ and donated its collections to Te Papa’s predecessor, the Dominion Museum.