Product Description

Sir Douglas Mawson’s Huts

During the Australasian Antarctica Expedition (AAE) 1911-14, Douglas Mawson established Australia’s first base for scientific and geographical discovery in Antarctica at Cape Denison.

Between 1912 and 1913, Mawson’s huts provided the base for his team’s heroic exploration of the Antarctic landscape. From these huts he set out to learn as much as he could about the forces that carved out Antarctica. His work on that trip and survey work on subsequent trips to the continent were instrumental in Australia later claiming 42 percent of Antarctica as Australian Territory.

Previously, Mawson travelled to Antarctica with the British Antarctic Expedition (BAE) 1907–09 led by Ernest Shackleton and was a member of the trio that set out to locate the South Magnetic Pole. On this trip, Mawson, Mackay and David set a record for an unsupported sledge journey (over 2000 km in 122 days).

Mawson was knighted in 1914.

Illustration by Fiona Li