The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was a 1911–1914 expedition headed by Douglas Mawson. It explored the largely uncharted Antarctic coast due south of Australia. Mawson had been inspired to lead his own venture by his experiences on Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition in 1907–1909. The expedition was the first to establish and maintain wireless contact between Antarctica and Australia.
About Australasian Antarctic Expedition in brief
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was a 1911–1914 expedition headed by Douglas Mawson. It explored the largely uncharted Antarctic coast due south of Australia. Mawson had been inspired to lead his own venture by his experiences on Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition in 1907–1909. During its time in Antarctica, the expedition’s sledging parties covered around 4,180 kilometres of unexplored territory. The expedition was the first to establish and maintain wireless contact between Antarctica and Australia. The scientific studies provided copious, detailed data which took thirty years to completely publish. The broad exploration program laid the groundwork for Australia’s later territorial claims in Antarctica. In January 1910, in London, Mawson met Robert Falcon Scott, who was then preparing his Terra Nova expedition. Mawson proposed that he should join this expedition as the head of an independent team, based at Cape Adare. The main base, under Mawson’s command, was set up at Cape Denison. A western base under Frank Wild was established on the Shackleton Ice Shelf, more than 2,410 kilometres west of CapeDenison. The party included a young Australian geologist, who, inspired by his experience, came home with thoughts of organising his own expedition. His particular interest lay not in the South Pole, but in investigating the Antarctic lands immediately to the south of Australian. That coast had been indeterminately explored in the 1840s by the French under Dumont D’Urville and by the American Charles Wilkes, but had not been visited since.
The Expedition was marred by the deaths of two members during an attempt to reach Oates Land: Belgrave Edward Ninnis, who fell into a crevasse, and Xavier Mertz, who died on the harrowing return journey. It turned out to be very fortunate Mawson missed the ship because he was in such bad health that the arduous sail back to Australia could have killed him, whereas by remaining at the base camp on mainland Antarctica he was afforded several months to slowly recover while the relief party looked after him. When Mawson returned from Antarctica, he was given a hero’s welcome and received many honours, including a knighthood. He was also dispatched to investigate the possibility of a goldmine in Hungary. On May 16, 1911, Shackleton issued a statement confirming Mawson’s position as chief scientist, adding that, if he should be unable to accompany the expedition, and I shall still use my influence in charge, … Mawson will still use his influence in regard to raising the necessary funds to float the gold mining venture. With this assurance Mawson joined the expedition and returned to Australia in May 1912. He returned with a renewed feelings of uncertainty as Shackleton was still trying to raise funds for the goldmining venture and was trying to float it for months for renewed funds. In May 1913, Mawton was dispatched to the Atlantic to brief Shackleton and check that he was still committed to the expedition.
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