Trypots at Try Pot Beach. Photograph by E. Woehler

Human activities at Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) have a relatively short but diverse history.

Wild and isolated Heard Island currently has no resident population but this has not always been the case.

The pages in this History section discuss the discovery of the islands, give a summary of subsequent human activities, including 19th century sealing, research expeditions, and private expeditions, and talk about the cultural heritage items relating to those early activities.