Where is the southernmost post office in the world? Falkland Islands? Patagonia? South Georgia? French Southern and Antarctic Lands?

Nope. None of those. Go even further south to Port Lockroy in Antarctica.

Yes, Port Lockroy, which is on Goudier Island off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, has a small post office which handles 70,000 pieces of mail every year – despite being inhabited only during the Antarctic summer season.

The bay in which Goudier Island sits is a regular stop off for cruise ships, consequently the Post Office is visited by 18,000 people a year. As well as being a post office, Port Lockroy has a small (tourist) shop, and a small museum; the workers (usually just 4 or 5 during the Antarctic summer) also double as scientists, observing and recording the gentoo penguin population for the British Antarctic Survey.

The post office and museum are maintained and operated by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), a charity committed to conserving historic buildings on the Antarctic Peninsula. The funds raised from the sale of souvenirs and postage fees go directly to supporting the conservation of UKAHT’s six historical sites in the area.

The 2022-2023 team made this short video during their stay …

It’s a bit of a cheat but you don’t have to go all the way to Antarctica to send a postcard from there! Earlier this autumn UKAHT were selling postcards that would be sent from Antarctica when this season’s team arrived (and had dug the base out from under last winter’s snow). Each postcard cost £20, could be personalised with your message, and sent to anyone anywhere in the world.

So of course I had to do this. I love esoteric things like this. My card arrived about a week ago – much sooner than expected given it’s somewhat byzantine journey (see this blog post). The postcards, like all the base’s supplies from stock for the shop to food, are shipped from the UK to Port Lockroy – in this case in the team’s luggage rather than on a supply ship.

Once stamped and franked the cards are bagged and surrendered to the next (suitable) visiting ship to travel to Stanley in the Falkland Islands (a trip of at least 5 days). From there they take the twice weekly flight to RAF Brize Norton in UK, where they are consigned to Royal Mail for transit to their destination (which could be anywhere in the world).

Here’s my card, front and back …

If you want a postal curiosity, keep an eye out next August/September as UKAHT may again be selling postcards like this to raise funds. You’ll be supporting British heritage in Antarctica, and valuable wildlife and climate research, but also contributing to a handful of young people getting the opportunity of life-changing experience. I shall certainly do this again if the opportunity arises.