A snapshot of Mawson's Antarctica expedition – in pictures

The geologist and explorer Douglas Mawson led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914. Comprising 31 men, including photographer Frank Hurley, it charted large segments of the east Antarctic coastline, and investigated sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island and the Southern Ocean. The party arrived at Commonwealth Bay in March 1912. Mawson lost two men – Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz – on an expedition to map part of the coastline, but survived an epic return journey alone to the main base

Main image: Biologist Harold Hamilton with the skeleton of a sea-elephant. Photograph: James Francis (Frank) Hurley/Australian War Memorial E05988B

  • Ice-cased Adelie penguins after a blizzard at Cape Denison

    Mawson had been part of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition between 1907 and 1909, which inspired him to mount his own journey from Australia.
    Ice-cased Adelie penguins after a blizzard at Cape Denison

  • A group portrait from the expedition

    Eighteen men established the main base at Cape Denison on Commonwealth Bay. Others set up smaller bases in the western Antarctic and on Macquarie Island.
    Photograph from the Expedition.

  • Blizzard, the pup in Antarctica

    Islands, rocks and reefs in Antarctica have been named after 26 of the husky dogs taken on Mawson’s expedition.
    Blizzard, the pup in Antarctica

  • Wild and Watson in a sleeping bag tent on sledge journey

    Frank Wild, like Mawson originally from Yorkshire, led the western base party. Geologist Andrew Watson was a student at the University of Sydney.
    Wild & Watson in sleeping bag tent on sledge journey

  • Unloading supplies at Cape Denison

    The team found a rocky area about a mile long and no more than half a mile wide, where they could safely establish the main base.
    Unloading supplies at Cape Denison

  • Bage in the entrance to the Astronomic Observatory

    Astronomer Edward Bage was among the researchers who did valuable work in the Antarctic. Information brought back by Mawson’s men made a major contribution to knowledge of the region.
    Edward Bage in the entrance to the Astronomic Observatory

  • Ice mask, C.T. Madigan

    Cecil Madigan was a meteorologist whose work laid the foundation for Antarctic weather research.
    Ice mask, C.T. MadiganThe exploration of new lands established precedence to claims, formalised in 1936 as the Australian Antarctic Territory.

  • A Sclater penguin

    Photographer Frank Hurley began his Antarctic career by persuading Mawson to employ him as official photographer on the expedition. His pictures from this trip and, even more famously, Shackleton’s ill-fated Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914-16, made him the most renowned polar photographer ever.
    A Sclater penguin

  • Cavern carved by the sea in an ice wall near Commonwealth Bay

    During Mawson’s expedition, Hurley took part in a record-breaking sledging journey to the South Magnetic Pole.
    Cavern carved by the sea in an ice wall near Commonwealth BayHurley took part in a record-breaking sledging journey to the South Magnetic Pole.

  • Arthur Sawyer and sea elephant pup

    Sawyer, a New Zealander, took the key role of chief wireless operator on Macquarie Island, linking the Antarctic bases with Australia.
    Arthur Sawyer and sea elephant pup

  • Weddell seal, Shackleton Ice Shelf

    Seals were a key source of protein to sustain the men and dogs at the Cape Denison base.
    Seals were a key source of protein to sustain the men and dogs at the Cape Denison base

  • Bickerton admires the beauty near Commonwealth Bay

    Francis Bickerton, an electrical engineer, made the first discovery of a meteorite in the Antarctic during a sledging journey that was part of Mawson’s expedition.
    F. Bickerton looking out over seas near Commonwealth Bay

  • Skeleton of sea-elephant and Hamilton

    Harold Hamilton was taken on by Mawson to serve as biologist in the Macquarie Island party.
    Harold Hamilton was taken on by Mawson to serve as biologist in the Macquarie Island party
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