▁Mac qu arie ▁Island , ▁commonly ▁called ▁Mac ca , ▁situated ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Ocean ▁and ▁located ▁approximately ▁half way ▁between ▁main land ▁Australia ▁and ▁Ant arct ica , ▁managed ▁by ▁the ▁Australian ▁Ant ar ctic ▁Division ▁( A AD ). ▁The ▁station ▁lies ▁at ▁the ▁base ▁of ▁W ire less ▁Hill , ▁between ▁two ▁b ays ▁on ▁the ▁is th mus ▁at ▁the ▁northern ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁island . ▁ ▁The ▁island ▁and ▁its ▁surrounding ▁waters ▁are ▁admin ister ed ▁as ▁a ▁nature ▁reserve ▁by ▁the ▁Tas man ian ▁Government ▁Park s ▁and ▁Wild life ▁Service . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁the ▁island ▁was ▁ins cribed ▁on ▁the ▁UN ES CO ▁World ▁Heritage ▁List ▁as ▁a ▁site ▁of ▁major ▁ge o con serv ation ▁significance , ▁being ▁the ▁only ▁place ▁on ▁earth ▁where ▁rocks ▁from ▁the ▁earth ' s ▁mant le ▁are ▁act ively ▁exposed ▁above ▁sea - level . ▁ ▁Pur pose ▁The ▁research ▁station ▁is ▁operated ▁by ▁the ▁Australian ▁Ant ar ctic ▁Division . ▁Scient ific ▁research ▁on ▁the ▁island ▁is ▁focused ▁around ▁bi ology , ▁ge osci ences , ▁meteor ology , ▁and ▁human ▁impact ▁on ▁the ▁environment . ▁Mac qu arie ▁island ▁birds ▁bre ed ▁on ▁the ▁island ▁so ▁wild life ▁management ▁and ▁counting ▁is ▁key ▁to ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁research ▁projects . ▁Mon itor ing ▁is ▁also ▁undert aken ▁for ▁the ▁Australian ▁Rad iation ▁Prote ction ▁and ▁N uc lear ▁Saf ety ▁Agency ▁to ▁detect ▁radio active ▁de br is ▁from ▁atmos pher ic ▁explos