60th anniversary of Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic nations around the world are today marking the 60th Anniversary of one of the world's most successful international agreements, the Antarctic Treaty.

The Treaty was signed on 1 December 1959 and enshrines Antarctica as a place of peace, science and international cooperation.

Australia was a keen and active participant in the negotiation of the Treaty and one of the 12 original signatories.

Over the last six decades many more countries have signed on and there are now 54 Parties to the Treaty.

More information

Antarctic Treaty System

United States representative, Herman Phleger, sits at a desk to sign the Antarctic Treaty in December 1959.
United States representative, Herman Phleger, signs the Antarctic Treaty in December 1959.
International flags of the participating nations fly over the  Mount Brown ice core drill site A team of international Aurora Basin scientists holding an ice core drilled at Aurora Basin North field camp
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