Vsyachina: Photos Of A Daring Expedition To Antarctica, 1911-1914

‘MEN WANTED for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honour and recognition in case of success’ – ad placed in London newspaper by Ernest Shackleton, 1914.

Photograph from the Expedition [group portrait], 1911-1914

In 1911 a group of mainly Australian scientists and adventurers left Hobart for Antarctica. Led by Dr Douglas Mawson, the band were bound for Macquarie Island and 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.

Shackleton expedition photographer Frank Hurley working under the bows of the Endurance, 1915.

Hurley would become the Shackleton expedition photographer. Before abandoning ship, Shackleton and Hurley went though the photographs. They kept 120 glass plates to keep. They smashed 400 plates.

F. Bickerton looking out over seas near Commonwealth Bay

A dreamy Venice in seal-land, from [Exhibition of pictures taken during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and other photographic studies by Frank Hurley], 1911-1914

Cavern carved by the sea in an ice wall near Commonwealth Bay, 1911-1914

Blizzard, the pup in Antarctica

The Air-tractor / photographed by Frank Hurley

Australian Antarctic Expedition members in the kitchen, 1911-1914

Frank Hurley washing cinematograph film on the “Aurora”

Mertz leaving the hut by the trapdoor on the verandah roof

Basilisk & Ginger at Main Base / photograph by Xavier Mertz

Harold Hamilton with skeleton of sea-elephant

Ice cased Adelie penguins after a blizzard at Cape Denison

Hamilton hand-netting for macro-plankton from Aurora

King penguins, Antarctica, 1911-1914 / Photograph by Frank Hurley

Wreck of the ‘Gratitude’, Macquarie Island, 1911

Winter quarters, Queen Mary Land winter, from [Exhibition of pictures taken during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and other photographic studies by Frank Hurley], 1911-1914