Australasian Antarctic Expedition

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Newly constructed Main Base Hut

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was an Australian scientific team that explored part of Antarctica between 1911 and 1914. It was led by the Australian geologist Douglas Mawson. In 1910 he began to plan an expedition to chart the 2000-mile long coastline of Antarctica to the south of Australia. The Australian Association for the Advancement of Science approved of his plans and contributed substantial funds for the expedition. The remaining funds were raised by public subscription and additional donations.

The team selected for the expedition came primarily from universities in Australia and New Zealand. They would sail on the Newfoundland sealing vessel Aurora, a steam-powered sailing vessel with a length of 165 feet and a displacement of 600 tons. The ship underwent modifications for the trip, including adding three large tanks for storing fresh water. The Aurora captain was John King Davis.

The vessel departed for Macquarie Island on December 2, 1911, arriving on December 11 after surviving stormy weather during the crossing. They began exploring the coastal areas, during which they discovered and claimed King George V Land and Queen Mary Land for the British Empire.

Commonwealth Bay has since been described as "the windiest place on earth"

The expedition built their winter quarters in Commonwealth Bay, where they spent the winters of 1912 and 1913. (Their hut still stands.) They also built quarters on Macquarie Island and the Shackleton Ice Shelf, but these no longer survive.

During a sledding trip to the east of the base with Douglas Mawson, Xavier Mertz and Belgrade Ninnis, a crevasse swallowed up Ninnis, a team of six dogs, and the sled containing most of their food. The survivors began a brutal journey home, during which they ate the remaining dogs for food. Mertz became delirious and died during the return, leaving Mawson the only survivor. He travelled 100 km back to the base at Cape Denison, dragging a sled with his geologic specimens. Mawson documents this harrowing journey in his book, "The Home of the Blizzard".

Other members were Charles Hoadley as geologist, and Cecil Madigan as meteorologist.