40 Amazing Photographs From the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition Between 1911-14

   

In 1911 a group of scientists and adventurers left Hobart under the leadership of Dr Douglas Mawson. They were bound for Macquarie Island and the then unknown parts of Antarctica. The scientists of the expedition produced information that later made an major contribution to knowledge of the region. The exploration of new lands established precedence to claims, formalised in 1936 as the Australian Antarctic Territory. Although James Francis (Frank) Hurley was the official photographer to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, other members of the expedition also took photographs.

F. Bickerton looking out over seas near Commonwealth Bay, circa 1912

 

Cavern carved by the sea in an ice wall near Commonwealth Bay, circa 1912

 

Wreck of the 'Gratitude', Macquarie Island, 1911

 

Mushroom ice formation, 1912

 

A radiant turret lit by the midsummer midnight sun, circa 1912

 

The Air-tractor, circa 1912

 

Huskies pulling sledge, circa 1912

 

Hamilton hand-netting for macro-plankton from Aurora, circa 1912

 

Arthur Sawyer and sea elephant pup, circa 1912

 

Skeleton of sea-elephant and Harold Hamilton, circa 1912

 

Aurora traversing loose pack ice entering the Durville Sea, Dec. 1913

 

Australian Antarctic Expedition members in the kitchen, circa 1912

 

Frank Hurley washing cinematograph film on the "Aurora", circa 1912

 

Start of the first Depot Journey; "The Grottoes", circa 1912

 

Wild and Watson in sleeping bag tent on sledge journey, circa 1912

 

Mawson rests at the side of sledge, outward bound on first sledge journey in Adelie Land, circa 1912

 

Mertz leaving the hut by the trapdoor on the verandah roof, circa 1912

 

Blizzard, the pup in Antarctica, circa 1912

 

Ice cased Adelie penguins after a blizzard at Cape Denison, circa 1912

 

Frozen Adelie, Antarctica, circa 1912

 

Shags defending nest, Macquarie Island, circa 1912

 

Basilisk and Ginger at Main Base, circa 1912

 

Ice mask, C.T. Madigan, circa 1912

 

Bob Bage and J. Hunter at 65 miles south

 

Bage in the entrance to the Astronomic Observatory, Antarctica, 1911-1914

 

Young sea-elephants on the beach, Macquarie Ilsand, Antarctica, 1911-1914

 

Female sea-elephant, Macquarie island, Antarctica, 1911-1914

 

King penguins, Antarctica, 1911-1914

 

Victoria penguin, Antarctica, 1911-1914

 

Weddell seal, Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica, 1911-1914

 

Unloading dogs at Western Base, February 1912

 

Winter quarters, Queen Mary Land winter, 1911-1914

 

A dreamy Venice in seal-land, 1911-1914

 

Sclater penguin, 1911-1912

 

Unloading supplies at Cape Denison, 1911-1914

 

Madigan at the rail and Mawson stepping from the rail of the Aurora, 1911-1914

 

In full sledging gear on the plateau, 1911-1914

 

Photograph from the Expedition [group portrait], 1911-1914

 

The Aurora seen from within a cavern of the Mertz Glacier Tongue, Commonwealth Bay, Dec. 1913

 

Cape Denison during a blizzard, crampons had to be worn on boots and ice-axes used, even so progress was very difficult and could be perilous