Discovering Antarctica

Highlights from the collections of the State Library of New South Wales

State Library of New South Wales

Discovering Antarctica: highlights from the collections of the State Library of New South Wales

America sive novi orbis or Exquisita & magno aliquot mensium periculo lustrata et iam retecta Freti Magellannici facies from Atlas sive cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mundi et fabricati figura, 1630 (1630) by Gerhard MercatorState Library of New South Wales

Discovering Antarctica

The Antarctic: the land and sea south of 60° S is an area dominated by a continental landmass, largely covered by ice, surrounding the South Pole. Maps and later photography and artworks illustrate the discovery and surveying of a unique, isolated and hostile environment at the bottom of the earth.This chart of the southern tip of South America was originally issued in 1606. The coast line of Tierra del Fuego appears to be part of an unknown southern continent. At the time of publication Cape Horn had still not been discovered. It was only in 1616 that Le Maire and Shouten rounded the tip of South America. The chart is from an atlas based on Mercator's Atlas of 1585-1595. This edition was published in French by Jodocus Hondius and his son Hendrik Hondius.

Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula, Claes Jansz Visscher, Amsterdam, 1652 (1652) by Claes Jansz VisscherState Library of New South Wales

Van Den Keere's decorative map of the world was first issued in 1608. It is a copy of Blaeu's map of 1608. The decorative figures include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The side panels show the four elements and the four seasons. At the bottom are the seven wonders of the world. The Van Den Keere plate was sold to Jan Jansson, who issued a number of versions. This 1639 map includes Le Maire Straits, separating Tierra del Fuego from South America.

Polus Antarcticus, Henrik Hondius, c1657, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Polus Antarcticus was first issued in 1637 by Hendricus Hondius. It is the earliest map to focus entirely on the Antarctic continent, which is illustrated by a chain of islands and partly by a series of lines. There were four states of the Polus Antarcticus map, with many issues by other map-makers within each state. The 1657 edition shows Tasman's discoveries from his first voyage, with references to Nova Hollandia and Nova Zeelandia. The original cartouche has been removed to make way for land newly discovered. The large vignettes surrounding the hemispherical map depict scenes from South America and the Pacific region.

A map of the southern hemi-sphere shewing the discoveries made in the Southern Ocean up to 1770, 1772 (1772) by James CookState Library of New South Wales

An original manuscript chart of Captain Cook’s relating to his second voyage, 6 February 1772. On the back of the map it states ‘Captain Cook's opinion of the rout the Resolution and Adventure ought to take to explore the Southern Ocean, humbly submitted to the consideration of the Earl of Sandwich’. The proposed route of the Resolution and Adventure is marked in yellow. Acquired through the New South Wales Agent General in London in 1922

Geography: a map of the world in three section, describing the polar regions to the tropics in which are traced the tracks of Lord Mulgrave and Captain Cook towards the North & south Pole and the torrid zone or tropical regions with the new discoveries in the South Sea, [ca. 1795], Andrew Bell, c1795, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Ice islands, William Hodges (1772-1775) by William HodgesState Library of New South Wales

The British government sent Captain James Cook, now famous after his charting of the east coast of Australia, to explore the far south with the ships Resolution and Adventure.

In late 1772, Cook came upon his first iceberg and in January 1773, he made the first ever crossing of the Antarctic Circle. However, the thick ice pack forced the ships northward. Without knowing it, Cook came within 129 kilometres of the Antarctic coast. During the next two years Cook spent the southern winters in the more temperate latitudes of the Pacific. In the summers he again turned south and continued his eastward voyage around the southern continent.

Towards the end of February 1775 he completed the first circumnavigation of Antarctica, proving that it was neither as large or habitable as once thought.

Cook's Antarctic voyage still remains as one of the greatest voyages of exploration and discovery.

English painter, William Hodges accompanied Cook on his second voyage and completed a number of sketches and paintings of locations visited on the voyage.

Ice islands with the Resolution and the Adventure (1772-1775) by William HodgesState Library of New South Wales

1772-1775
Captain James Cook and the crew of the Resolution and Adventure became the first men to cross the Antarctic Circle. They eventually circumnavigated Antarctica, crossing the Antarctic circle three times. Cook reached 71 degrees south, a higher latitude than anyone before him, and in three years sailed some 97,000 km (62,000 miles)

The Resolution and Adventure, 4 Jan, 1773, taking in ice for water, lat. 61.S. (1773) by William HodgesState Library of New South Wales

[Aurora polaris] (1911-1914)State Library of New South Wales

20th century exploration

A number of national expeditions explored Antarctica at the turn of the 20th century, including expeditions from Belgium, England, France, Sweden, Germany, Scotland, Norway, New Zealand and Australia. The State Library holds a significant collection relating to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914.In 1911 a group of scientists and adventurers left Hobart under the leadership of Dr Douglas Mawson. They were bound for Macquarie Island and the then unknown parts of Antarctica. The scientists of the expedition produced information that later made an major contribution to knowledge of the region. The exploration of new lands established precedence to claims, formalised in 1936 as the Australian Antarctic Territory.This drawing was reproduced in `Records of the aurora polaris' by Douglas Mawson in Scientific reports. Series B, v. 2. Terrestrial magnetism and related observations / Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 ; pt. 1.

Mawson rests at the side of sledge, outward bound on first sledge journey in Adelie Land (1911-1914) by Xavier MertzState Library of New South Wales

Hauling the dogs up the flying-fox at "The Grottoes" (1912) by Andrew D. WatsonState Library of New South Wales

Sawyer & sea elephant pup, Harold Hamilton, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Hurley washing cinematograph film after development in the Antarctic on board the "Aurora", Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Photographer Frank Hurley visited Antarctica six times, from his first visit with the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911 to the last in 1932 with the British, Australian, New Zealand, Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE). Hurley was an exceptional photographer and his Antarctic visits covered a substantial part of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. Hurley’s images of the expeditions led by Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton remain as popular and poignant records of a fascinating era of southern discovery.

Group of Emperor penguins present during the landing of the West Base Party (1911-1914) by F.J. GilliesState Library of New South Wales

Ice-caked Adelie penguins after a blizzard; Cape Denison (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

Full sledging gear on the plateau, [Photographs reproduced in `Geographical narrative and cartography' by Douglas Mawson], 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Frank Hurley wrote, "Sledging was terrifically hot, what with reflection from the snow and sun glare, that we were mightily glad to strip ourselves and haul in our shirts. What characters we looked! Faces nearly black with sunburn and seared with frostbites, begoggled and whiskered. An absolute hush brooded over the plateau, broken only by the creak of our runners, as they glided over the wind polished surface."

Union Jack used sledging, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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The Air-tractor, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Oceanography: marine biological programme and other zoological and botanical activities (1911-1914)State Library of New South Wales

An ice ravine (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

Australian Antarctic Expedition Members: scenes inside living quarters, 1911-1915, Frank Hurley, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Australian Antarctic Expedition Members: scenes inside living quarters, 1911-1914 (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

Lotus-floe 'neath the barrier brink (Bickerton surveying the scene from Land's End, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Madigan the meteorologist, Frank Hurley, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Blizzard one of the Greenland pups, Frank Hurley, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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One of the dogs, Frank Hurley, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Ice cased [i.e. moulting] Adelie penguins after a blizzard at Cape Denison (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

A blizzard by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

A cavern beneath the coasted ice cliffs, Frank Hurley, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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The Aurora in a blizzard, Frank Hurley, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Panorama of bergs in the Davis Sea (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

A conclave of emperors (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

King penguins, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Protection, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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A radiant turret lit by the midsummer midnight sun, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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The first landing near the main base station, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Winter quarters (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

All life is affected by the ice (1911-1914)State Library of New South Wales

Sled lines (1911-1914)State Library of New South Wales

Photograph from the Expedition, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Huskies pulling sledge (1911-1914)State Library of New South Wales

An Antarctic sunset - in the 'pack', 22 Jan, 1911-1913, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Drawings by Charles T. Harrisson who joined the Australasian Antarctic Expedition at 43 years of age. He was stationed with the Western Base (Queen Mary Land) where he acted as biologist and artist, accompanying Frank Wild on his main eastern journey and several other sledging parties

The New Land, sighted on the 23 Jan,, 1911-1913, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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S.Y. Aurora anchored to floe ice, 13 Feb, 1911-1913, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Our Antarctic home, the 'Second Base', 10 Apr, 1911-1913, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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A 'bad light' (snowy weather), tent-clothes, etc., out to dry, 1 Dec, 1911-1913, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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The sledger's christmas dinner, 25 Dec, 1911-1913, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Royal penguins sunning themselves, Nuggets Beach (1911-1914) by Frank HurleyState Library of New South Wales

A sea elephant, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Bull sea elephants fighting, Frank Hurley, 1911-1914, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Captain Frank Hurley self-portrait, on board the "Discovery", ca. 1929, Frank Hurley, c1929, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Photographer Frank Hurley working whilst on a later expedition to Antarctica in 1929.

Hurley’s pictures were acclaimed as among the finest yet taken of Antarctica. For many people, Hurley’s images of Antarctica were the first they had seen of the southern continent. His internationally renowned images of the Antarctic show the flavour of the continent: his pictures of human life in the far south are now beautiful reminders of a past age – his shots of Antarctica and its wildlife are as vivid and real as a visit to the ice lands now.

Antarctica and the south polar regions: Byrd's South Pole Ship, 1933, From the collection of: State Library of New South Wales
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Credits: Story

Curators: Maggie Patton, Elise Edmonds
Technical support: Chris Burns
State Library of New South Wales

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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