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 a major contribution to the knowledge of the region. The exploration of new lands established precedence to claims, formalized 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.
Cavern carved by the sea in an ice wall near Commonwealth Bay, circa 1912
F. Bickerton looking out over seas 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
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
Australian Antarctic Expedition members in the kitchen, circa 1912
Wild and Watson in sleeping bag tent on sledge journey, circa 1912