History of the Antipodes Islands
blogBy Chrissy Wickes

Fingerpost indicating direction of depot. Photo by K.Walker
The following information has been taken from Straight through from London. Taylor, 2006.
1800 March 26 the Antipodes Islands were discovered and named “Penantipodes” by their discoverer, Captain Waterhouse of H.M.S. Reliance
1805 February first sealing gang arrive on the island from the schooner Independence. This American gang killed about 60,000 seals over the course of the year they were stationed on the islands. By 1880 about 330,000 seals had been harvested off Antipodes and successfully reached port[1]
1805-1806 A total of 86 sealers inhabited the Antipodes
1880 Crew from the schooner Alert found no seals during a 6 week stay, but brought back 3500 penguin skins
1886 March 17 a castaway depot was established. The depot was served mostly on a yearly basis until 1927
1887 Three goats and seven sheep were landed no Antipodes. Gums, firs, wattles and Scotch broom were planted. None of which survived
1888 First scientist to visit Antipodes was Andreas Reischek from the vessel Stella
1889 Three cattle landed on Antipodes
1890 Kirk & Chapman visit and completed the first botanical collection from the island noting that all 3 adventive plant species (Stelleria media, Sonchus asper and Poa annua) were already present on the island
1893 Sept 4 the first recorded wreck, the barque Spirit of the Dawn, sixteen crew with 5 lives lost. The survivors were rescued by Captain Fairchild of the Hinemoa after 88 days during which time they did not find the castaway depot
Department of Lands offered a lease on the Antipodes for farming
1895 Mr W Dunwoodie took up this lease for 21 years but never took any stock to the island
1894 Eight guide posts (fingerposts) were installed pointing to castaway depot
1903 The botanist Cockayne visits. Three more heifers were landed
1904 More sheep and goat are liberated. These were the last introductions
1908 March 13 the second wreck on the Antipodes occurred with Président Félix Faure. The crew killed the last surviving livestock remaining on the island, being a young cattle beast. All 27 crew survived the 60 days before being rescued by HMS Pegasus
1909 Captain Bollons reports mice numerous in the castaway depot
1961 Antipodes declared a Flora and Fauna Reserve
1978 Antipodes declared a Nature Reserve
1980’s NHNZ make documentary See more
1999 The last wreck to date was the Totorore, where 2 people lost their lives. The Totorore was a scientific expedition yacht that had completed several successful research trips to the Antipodes previously.
[1] It is estimated that up to 15% of the total harvest may have been wasted during collection and transport . This factor would increase this total take.(Taylor 2006)