Southern Cryonics operates the southern hemisphere’s only cryonics facility out of an industrial estate shed in Holbrook, New South Wales, storing human bodies head-down in liquid nitrogen at -196C for upwards of $200,000 per person in the hope of future technological revival.
The Holbrook Facility and Its Operations
Opened in 2023, the regional New South Wales facility currently houses seven suspended patients inside large stainless steel flasks known as dewars, according to Southern Cryonics chair Peter Tsolakides. The location was chosen for its proximity to Sydney and Melbourne alongside its safety from earthquakes and floods. Conveniently, the town was already a delivery destination for liquid nitrogen used by a local cattle breeding association to freeze bull semen and embryos, according to the operators. Jim Davis, from Parkes Liquid Nitrogen, regularly tops up the dewars every fortnight because the liquefied gas slowly escapes to prevent the containers from exploding.
Did you know? Holbrook is also home to the decommissioned submarine HMAS Otway, which sits stranded in a park 250km away from the ocean.
Vitrification and the Suspension Process
To prevent cellular destruction, clients undergo an eight-hour vitrification process managed by CryoPath as soon as possible after death, according to Southern Cryonics. A third-party medical perfusionist company pumps the corpse with antifreeze-like embalming chemicals to turn the body into a glass-like state. Facility manager Philip Rhoades tested the winching mechanism using a fully dressed crash test dummy lying on the shed floor. Not all patients undergo this full procedure, as some clients choose a straight freeze instead.
Scientific Skepticism and High Costs
Cryopreservation experts remain highly skeptical about the viability of the procedure. Associate Professor Saffron Bryant from RMIT University in Melbourne states that current science does not support whole-body preservation, noting that cooling an entire body causes outside skin to cool faster than the inside, resulting in a mushy strawberry effect. Furthermore, Bryant explains that the underlying cause of death—such as a heart attack or Alzheimer’s disease—remains entirely unreversed by freezing. Financially, the initial stabilisation costs an estimated $60,000, while storage adds another $150,000 alongside a $350 annual membership fee, totals that Tsolakides says mostly cover liquid nitrogen and staffing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to be cryogenically frozen at Southern Cryonics?
The total gamble costs upwards of $200,000, which includes an estimated $60,000 for initial stabilisation and $150,000 for indefinite storage, plus a $350 annual membership fee, according to company disclosures.
Where is the Southern Cryonics facility located?
The facility is located inside an industrial shed in Holbrook, a small town off the Hume Highway in regional New South Wales, positioned between Sydney and Melbourne.
How many cryonics facilities exist worldwide?
According to facility operators, there are six cryonics facilities globally, with two in the United States and one each in Switzerland, China, and Russia.
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