Douglas Mawson returning to Australia with rescue party and members of Macquarie Island Base

Black-and-white photograph of Douglas Mawson with the rescue party returning to Australia.

About this record

In February 1914, Douglas Mawson (pictured fifth from the right) and his rescue party, led by Cecil Madigan, were collected by the Aurora and brought back to Australia.

Six months later World War I began. It would be more than 15 years until another Australian expedition would go to Antarctica, and more than 30 years until all the scientific reports of the AAE were published.

Related themes

Theme

Seven huskies towing a dogsled carrying two people and their supplies across.

Antarctica

Australia is responsible for part of the coldest, windiest and least hospitable continent in the world, as well as some of the ground-breaking scientific research that takes place there.

Theme

Pioneering Australians

Pioneering Australians have earned respect as artists, sportspeople, explorers, scientists and inventors. Others worked tirelessly for humanitarian or environmental causes or against unjust laws.