Rare 100 year old photos captured the first Australasian Expedition to Antartica (30 Pics)

Huskies Pulling Sledge

Blizzard, The Pup In Antarctica

Mushroom Ice Formation

Ice Cased Adelie Penguins After A Blizzard At Cape Denison

Skeleton Of Sea-Elephant & Harold Hamilton

Frozen Adelie Penguin, Antarctica

Wreck Of The ‘Gratitude’ In Macquarie Island

C.t. Madigan With An Ice Mask

Sclater Penguin

F. Bickerton Looking Out Over Seas Near Commonwealth Bay

Cavern Carved By The Sea In An Ice Wall Near Commonwealth Bay

Shags Defending Nest, Macquarie Island

Weddell Seal In Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica

A Dreamy Venice In Seal-Land

Photo Of The Crew Members

Wild & Watson In Sleeping Bag Tent On Sledge Journey

Mertz Leaving The Hut By The Trapdoor On The Verandah Roof

Arthur Sawyer & Sea Elephant Pup

Australian Antarctic Expedition Members In The Kitchen

Mawson Rests At The Side Of Sledge, Outward Bound On First Sledge Journey In Adelie Land

Female Sea-Elephant, Macquarie Island

A Radiant Turret Lit By The Midsummer Midnight Sun

Frank Hurley Washing Cinematograph Film On The “Aurora”

Bage In The Entrance To The Astronomic Observatory

Victoria Penguin

Winter Quarters, Queen Mary Land Winter

In Full Sledging Gear On The Plateau

The Air-Tractor

State Library Of New South Wales Follow Aurora Traversing Loose Pack Ice Entering The Durville Sea

Start Of The First Depot Journey; “The Grottoes”

Bob Bage And J. Hunter At 65 Miles South

Madigan At The Rail & Mawson Stepping From The Rail Of The Aurora

Unloading Supplies At Cape Denison More than a hundred years ago, the young Australian geologist Douglas Mawson embarked on a first Australasian Antarctic expedition. This expedition is deemed legendary for the resilience, physical endurance, loyalty and accomplishments of the crew. The Australasian Antarctic Expedition began in 1911. The objective was to investigate, as far as possible, a stretch of essentially unknown Antarctic coast. However this mission turned out to be fatal for 2 of Mawson's crew members. Belgrave Ninnis plummeted down a crevasse with a sledge carrying most of their supplies. Another crew member, Xavier Mertz, perished from exhaustion, starvation and possible toxicity from eating dogs' livers. Despite the sacrifices that were made, the 3 years spent in sub-zero temperatures and extremely harsh winds didn't go to waste. The expedition managed to chart large segments of east Antarctic coastline and resulted in major contributions to the knowledge of the region. Furthermore, species on land and sea, previously unknown, were described for the first time. Mawson was hailed as a hero for his persistence, determination and bravery which contributed to the advancement of science. Thanks to the photographer Frank Hurley and other crew members, we can witness this groundbreaking expedition through these astonishing photographs.