The Australasian Antarctic Expedition, under the leadership of Douglas Mawson, left Hobart, Tasmania, on 2 December 1911 in SY Aurora. Members of the expedition were organised into three parties, two in bases established on the Antarctic mainland and the third on the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. The Main Party base, under Mawson, was established at Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay, at 67°0'S, 142°40'E. A Far Western party, under Frank Wild, was based on the Shackleton Ice Shelf, at 66°0'S, 100°E. The Macquarie Island base under George Ainsworth, as well as carrying out meteorological and other observations, acted as a wireless relay station connecting the Antarctic to Hobart.
Aurora, the expedition's ship, conducted a series of oceanographic surveys as part of the expedition and was captained by John King Davis, who also acted as the expedition's second-in-command.
Land parties Main Base Name Age Image Role Notes23 Astronomer, assistant magnetician, recorder of tides. Member of party that remained for second winter, 1913 Bage served with the Royal Australian Engineers in the First World War, and died at Gallipoli on 7 May 1915.22 Engineer, and motor expert, in charge of air-tractor sledge Member of party that remained for second winter, 1913 Bickerton was selected for Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition as motor engineer, but on the outbreak of war in August 1914 he joined the British army, serving in the Royal Flying Corps. 40 General duties; assistant collector, member of several sledging parties 19 Mechanic, assistant physicist. Member of Eastern coastal sledging party Acted as photographer on Auroras final cruise, 1913–1426 Wireless telegraphist, assistant magnetician Left base February 1913, replaced by Sidney Jeffryes26 Cartographer, sketch artist, assistant meteorologist Member of party that remained for second winter, 1913 23 Biologist Acted as biologist on Auroras final cruise, 1913–1424 Official photographer and cinephotographer Hurley was the official photographer accompanying Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–16, and returned to Antarctica in 1930 with the British Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE). 27 Wireless operator, replacement for Walter Hannam Joined base February 1913. Suffered mental breakdown; after the expedition he was confined to an asylum in Ararat, Victoria. Died 1942.25 Taxidermist, biological collector. Participated in several sledging journeys 22 Meteorologist, in charge of dogs during second season Member of party that remained for second winter, 1913 30 Geologist, expedition leader Only survivor of party of three sledging to east of base, 1912–13, Ninnis and Mertz having died. Mawson returned to the Antarctic in 1929 and 1931 as leader of BANZARE.26 Chief medical officer, bacteriologist Member of party that remained for second winter, 1913. Editor of "Adelie Blizzard" (expedition publication) during second season28 With Ninnis, in charge of Greenland dogs Died 7 January 1913 during sledging journey32 In charge of expedition stores Had been designated leader of a third Antarctic base that was not established. 23 With Mertz, in charge of Greenland dogs Died 14 December 1912, falling into a crevasse during sledging journey23 Geologist 22 Chief magnetician Webb was the last survivor of the expedition, dying on 23 January 1984, aged 94.29 Surgeon
Western Base Name Age Image Role Notes21 Cartographer Member of western sledging journey that reached Gaussberg.43 Biologist and Artist Accompanied Wild on eastern sledging journey.24 Geologist Member of western sledging journey that reached Gaussberg.24 Medical officer Member of western sledging journey that reached Gaussberg.22 Magnetician and assistant cartographer Accompanied Wild on eastern sledging journey. 25 Meteorologist Remained at base during the main sledging journeys. In 1916, Moyes acted as navigator on Aurora during the rescue of the marooned Ross Sea party at the end of Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Moyes also participated in BANZARE in 1929–30. 24 Geologist Accompanied Wild on eastern sledging journey.38 Leader of Western party. Veteran of the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the Nimrod Expedition, 1907–09, Wild was a member of Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–16 and led the Elephant Island group. He was second-in-command of Shackleton's final expedition in the Quest, 1921–22, and acted as its leader after Shackleton's death in January 1922.
Macquarie Island Name Age Image Role Notes30 Leader, meteorologist Visited Antarctica during the final cruise of the Aurora, 1913–14.Leslie Blake21 Cartographer and geologist Visited Antarctica during the final cruise of the Aurora, 1913–14. Died on 3 October 1918 while on active service with the Australian Field Artillery in France.26 Biologist Visited Antarctica during the final cruise of the Aurora, 1913–14. Has the fish Scopelosaurus hamiltoni (Waite 1916) named after him.25 Wireless operator and mechanic Visited Antarctica during the final cruise of the Aurora, 1913–14.26 Wireless operator Left expedition in August 1913 due to illness.
Aurora
Officers Name Age Image Role Notes24 Chief officer, final Antarctic voyage28 Master of Aurora and second-in-command of the expedition Davis had been chief officer, and later captain, of Nimrod during Shackleton's 1907–09 expedition. In 1916 he captained Aurora again, during the Ross Sea party rescue mission. In 1929–30 he captained Discovery during the first BANZARE year. Chief officer, second and third Aurora voyages, replacing Toutcher. 35 Chief engineer In 1916 Gillies served as chief engineer of Aurora during the Ross Sea party rescue mission.22 Second and navigating officer19 Third officer In 1916, served as Auroras first officer during the Ross Sea party rescue mission. Chief officer, first Antarctic voyage, succeeded by Fletcher.
Crew More than 90 persons are listed by the Australian government's Antarctic Division as serving on Aurora during the duration of the expedition, including the crew that brought the ship from London to Australia in 1911. In general, the crews changed for each of the Antarctic cruises, but a few served on more than one cruise.
Others Mawson names several others who took part in one or more of the Aurora cruises, but were not members of the landing parties: Captain James Davis, a whaling authority; C.C. Eitel, the expedition's secretary; T.T. Flynn, biologist; E.R. Waite, biologist; J. van Waterschoot, marine artist.
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