-
Period: to
Whaling and sealing
Hobart was used as a base for whalers and sealers
they sailed into antarctica's seas
Returned with cargo of seal skins and whale oil -
Period: to
The heroic era: the explorers
Emest Shackleton visited Antarctica with several Australians
Douglas Mawson led small group that became first to climb Mt Erebus and reach South Magnetic Pole
Mawson returned in 1911 as head of first Australasian Antarctic expedition -
Period: to
Flying, Mapping and claiming
George Wilkins became first to explore Antarctica by Aircraft in 1928
1929 Mawson used this technology to map coastline or new Australian Antarctic Territory -
Period: to
Science takes over
Australia opened first permanent base in Antarctica on the 13h Feburary 1954, Mawson station
Was built to allow scientists to conduct experiments and to be used as a base for exploring inland
Davis station opened in 1957 in the Vestfold hills
Casey station was built in 1969
Law base opened in 1987 named after Phillip Law who was in charge of Australia's Antarctic program from 149-1966 -
Period: to
1990 to present
Australians continue to go to Antarctica in extreme conditions
1999, two Australians and a Kiwi reached South Pole on foot as members of Icetrek expedition
Other projects include the restoration of Mawson's original huts at Commonwealth Bay