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

(via State Library of New South Wales)