
Huskies Pulling Sledge


Blizzard, The Pup In Antarctica


Mushroom Ice Formation


Ice Cased Adelie Penguins After A Blizzard At Cape Denison


Skeleton Of Sea-Elephant & Harold Hamilton


Frozen Adelie Penguin, Antarctica


Wreck Of The ‘Gratitude’ In Macquarie Island


C.t. Madigan With An Ice Mask


Sclater Penguin




F. Bickerton Looking Out Over Seas Near Commonwealth Bay




Cavern Carved By The Sea In An Ice Wall Near Commonwealth Bay


Shags Defending Nest, Macquarie Island


Weddell Seal In Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica


A Dreamy Venice In Seal-Land


Photo Of The Crew Members




Wild & Watson In Sleeping Bag Tent On Sledge Journey


Mertz Leaving The Hut By The Trapdoor On The Verandah Roof


Arthur Sawyer & Sea Elephant Pup


Australian Antarctic Expedition Members In The Kitchen


Mawson Rests At The Side Of Sledge, Outward Bound On First Sledge Journey In Adelie Land


Female Sea-Elephant, Macquarie Island


A Radiant Turret Lit By The Midsummer Midnight Sun


Frank Hurley Washing Cinematograph Film On The “Aurora”


Bage In The Entrance To The Astronomic Observatory


Victoria Penguin


Winter Quarters, Queen Mary Land Winter


In Full Sledging Gear On The Plateau


The Air-Tractor


State Library Of New South Wales Follow Aurora Traversing Loose Pack Ice Entering The Durville Sea


Start Of The First Depot Journey; “The Grottoes”


Bob Bage And J. Hunter At 65 Miles South


Madigan At The Rail & Mawson Stepping From The Rail Of The Aurora


Unloading Supplies At Cape Denison
More than a hundred years ago, the young Australian geologist Douglas Mawson embarked on a first Australasian Antarctic expedition. This expedition is deemed legendary for the resilience, physical endurance, loyalty and accomplishments of the crew.
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition began in 1911. The objective was to investigate, as far as possible, a stretch of essentially unknown Antarctic coast. However this mission turned out to be fatal for 2 of Mawson's crew members. Belgrave Ninnis plummeted down a crevasse with a sledge carrying most of their supplies. Another crew member, Xavier Mertz, perished from exhaustion, starvation and possible toxicity from eating dogs' livers.
Despite the sacrifices that were made, the 3 years spent in sub-zero temperatures and extremely harsh winds didn't go to waste. The expedition managed to chart large segments of east Antarctic coastline and resulted in major contributions to the knowledge of the region. Furthermore, species on land and sea, previously unknown, were described for the first time. Mawson was hailed as a hero for his persistence, determination and bravery which contributed to the advancement of science.
Thanks to the photographer Frank Hurley and other crew members, we can witness this groundbreaking expedition through these astonishing photographs.
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