Those familiar with the life of Joseph Sturge, his travels in the West Indies, Sturgetown in Jamaica and the family estates in Montserrat, might be excused for hoping that Sturge Island was an idyllic holiday destination of palm fringed beaches edging an azure Caribbean sea. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sturge Island is located in the Antartic Ocean, best found by following a line on the globe directly south from New Zealand (at 67.40 S, 164.83 E.) The fact that it shows on so many maps has probably more to do with the cartographers lack of other worthwhile features in that vast area than its importance as a destination of any kind. Yet, in recent years, a number of people have taken a particular interest in the island.

In June 2001 satellite photography revealed volcanic activity and this has brought the remote island to the attention of volcanologists around the world. Sturge Island's steep cliffs, the lack of landing points and a surrounding sea that is frozen for much of the year, makes access difficult and very few have visited this 44 kilometre long, ice-capped basalt volcanic rock. It is thought a landing may have been made by an American helicopter in the 1960s.

Discovered on February 9th 1839, the island forms a part of the Balleny Group, three islands of which Sturge is the largest, followed by Young and Buckle. They were named by John Balleny, who was in charge of a voyage of discovery by the schooner "Eliza Scott," outfitted in 1838 by the Endersby Brothers, a firm of London sealing merchants.

We are indebted to Dr Fred Prata, Senior Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO Atmospheric Research, for much of the information in this article and hope soon to be able to publish a photograph of Sturge Island. Contributions of additional information about the island would be most welcome. Further details can be found on the Smithsonian Institute web site.