A month on from the announcement of a major downgrading of its operations, Australia's sub-Antarctic research station is now the subject of a multi-million-dollar revamp.

In September, the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) announced researchers would no longer work year-round on Macquarie Island and would instead do their work in huts during summer.

The division has operated a year-round research station on the windswept island, 1,500 kilometres from Tasmania, since 1948.

The announcement prompted an outcry from the scientific community, with fears expressed that without a constant presence the island would be subject to an influx of vermin and uncontrolled tourism.

Four days later, Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg intervened and said he wanted to maintain the constant presence on the island.

'State of the art' upgrade

Today, Mr Frydenberg announced $50 million in Commonwealth funding for a "state of the art" operation.

"We will build a state of the art base at Macquarie Island and it will be the best across the southern ocean," Mr Frydenberg told ABC's AM program.

"It will have a permanent year-round presence, it will allow 15 researchers and 30 researchers in summer to work there."

Mr Frydenberg said the "issue earlier in the month" was whether the Government would shift to using the base over summer and maintain a "temporary presence" over winter.

"Now we'll have a permanent base throughout the year both through summer and winter," he said.

He described it as "a good decision".

A 'most wretched place'

The island was discovered in 1810 and claimed for the British and once considered as the site for a penal colony, but ultimately ruled out because of its "remote and stormy region".

Commercial sealing almost wiped out the island's population. ( ABC News: David Hudspeth )

It was a disputed territory with New Zealand but Australia won out and the island came under Tasmania's jurisdiction in 1825.

Early visitors included renowned expeditioners Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

Sir Douglas Mawson established the first scientific station in 1911, but the main station facility was set up in 1948.

The island, now lauded as a site of "major geoconservation significance", was not everyone's cup of tea.

AAD notes a ship captain recording his opinion of the island in 1822 as "the most wretched place of involuntary and slavish exilium that can possibly be conceived; nothing could warrant any civilised creature living on such a spot".