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Sir Douglas Mawson
Title : Sir Douglas Mawson Sir Douglas Mawson
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Creator : Hurley, Frank; photographer.
Date of creation : ca. 1929
Format : Photograph
Dimensions : 200 x 155 mm
Contributor : State Library catalogue
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Description :

Sir Douglas Mawson in his cabin on board the Discovery during the B.A.N.Z. Antarctic Research Expedition, 1929-31.


Douglas Mawson (1882-1958) was born at Shipley, England, and immigrated to New South Wales with his family in 1884. He was appointed lecturer in mineralogy and petrology at the University of Adelaide in 1905 and later Professor of Geology and Mineralogy (1920-1952).

On field trips in South Australia, Mawson studied the deposits left by glaciers in the South Australian outback and joined Ernest Shackleton's Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (1907-1909) to further his studies by investigating glaciers themselves.

Mawson took part in the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911-1914), which travelled on the ship Aurora to establish Australian interests in the area. During this expedition Mawson, Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz explored the far eastern region of Antarctica. Ninnis and Mertz both perished and Mawson endured an epic lone sledge trip back to base camp.

Convinced that Australia should be a major influence in the region, Mawson lobbied for further expeditions to Antarctica. He led the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition, 1929-1931.

The first permanent Antarctic station was named after Mawson and his image appeared on the Australian 100 dollar paper note (1984-1996).

Subjects
Related names :

Shackleton, Ernest Henry, Sir, 1874-1922

Further reading :
Langsford, Anne and Mark Pharaoh. In the footsteps of Sir Douglas Mawson, [Adelaide]: South Australian Museum and the University of Adelaide], 2000

Mawson, Douglas, Sir. The B.A.N.Z. Antarctic Research Expedition, 1929-31, [London: s.n., 1932] (London: William Clowes and Sons)

Mawson, Douglas, Sir. British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition: report ... 1929-30, Canberra, 1930

Parer, David and Elizabeth Parer-Cook. Douglas Mawson, the survivor, Morwell, Vic.: Alella Books; Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1983

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