Unique photos from the first Australian Antarctic expedition 1911-1914 years

In 1911 a group of scientists and adventurers led by geologist Douglas Mawson left the Australian city of Hobart. A team of 37 people went through Macquarie island (along the way, making the first detailed map of the island) in unknown lands of the Antarctic.

The Australian expedition was an unprecedented event for Antarctic research for the time. Information geological, climatological and biological studies have made an enormous contribution to the study of the region. Of the 37 employees of the group under the command of Mawson 20 was degree, only two of them — the Mawson and the commander of the Western parties F. wild had polar experience.

Official photographer of the Australian Antarctic expedition was Frank Hurley.

At the age of 13, Frank quit school and got a job at the steel mill to the Esk Bank Ironworks in the town of Lithgow. The young Hurley instilled his hands-on mentor factory, who was passionate about it, then a relatively new art form. He often took Hurley with him on "outings" in the Blue mountains, in the vicinity of which lies the town.

In 1911, Dr Douglas Mawson invited Hurley to Frank to participate as a photographer in the first Australian Antarctic expedition. In addition to its core responsibilities, Hurley took an active part in solving everyday problems of the expedition, and was also a member of the campaign "southern party" under the leadership of astronomer Edward Badge, the purpose of which was to conduct observations of terrestrial magnetism in the vicinity of the South magnetic pole of the Earth. From 10 November 1912 to 11 January 1913 the party in terms of brutal weather was at Antarctica for more than 600 miles (965 kilometers).

Ice cave.

Expedition member looks at the water of the Gulf of Commonwealth.

A broken fishing boat on the beach o Macquarie.

Ice mushroom.

Huskies pulling sleds.

Arthur Sawyer and the cubs of the elephant.

Harold Hamilton and the skeleton of the elephant.

The expedition members in the kitchen.

Wilde and Watson wrap up in a sleeping bag in the sled.

Puppy sled dog.

Chicks of Adelie penguins after a heavy snowstorm.

Dogs on the main database.

A typical portrait of a man who came on the air in a hurricane. Photo meteorologist Madigan after removal of indications of devices.

Sea elephants.

Royal penguins.

The wintering grounds, the Land of Queen Mary.

Members of the expedition.

The photograph illustrates the movement during the hurricane.