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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. State Library Of New South Wales Follow Aurora Traversing Loose Pack Ice Entering The Durville Sea .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. Mawson's survival was a miracle, as he described it in his journals “Never have I come so near an end; never has anyone more miraculously escaped".

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Wreck Of The 'Gratitude' In Macquarie Island

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Arthur Sawyer & Sea Elephant Pup Thanks to the photographer Frank Hurley and other crew members, we can witness this groundbreaking expedition through these astonishing photographs.

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Australian Antarctic Expedition Members In The Kitchen

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Start Of The First Depot Journey; "The Grottoes" 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.

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

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Blizzard, The Pup In Antarctica

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Ice Cased Adelie Penguins After A Blizzard At Cape Denison

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Mushroom Ice Formation

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Frank Hurley Washing Cinematograph Film On The "Aurora"

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Wild & Watson In Sleeping Bag Tent On Sledge Journey

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Mertz Leaving The Hut By The Trapdoor On The Verandah Roof

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Bob Bage And J. Hunter At 65 Miles South

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Basilisk & Ginger At Main Base

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Shags Defending Nest, Macquarie Island

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C.t. Madigan With An Ice Mask

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Bage In The Entrance To The Astronomic Observatory

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Female Sea-Elephant, Macquarie Island

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Young Sea-Elephants On The Beach, Macquarie Ilsand

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

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Winter Quarters, Queen Mary Land Winter

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A Dreamy Venice In Seal-Land

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Unloading Supplies At Cape Denison

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

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In Full Sledging Gear On The Plateau

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Photo Of The Crew Members

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The Air-Tractor

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F. Bickerton Looking Out Over Seas Near Commonwealth Bay

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A Radiant Turret Lit By The Midsummer Midnight Sun

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Huskies Pulling Sledge

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State Library Of New South Wales Follow Hamilton Hand-Netting For Macro-Plankton From Aurora

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Skeleton Of Sea-Elephant & Harold Hamilton