Finding Antarctica - mapping the last continent

Archived blog: this blog is no longer active.

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:54:50 +1100

Archived blog: this blog is no longer active.

February 1912 - The Western Party in search of a landing place

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:43:14 +1100

In 1971 the Library purchased a collection of papers containing Frank Wild's memoirs of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, and British Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917. The following extract is taken from Frank Wild Memoirs, 1937? MLMSS 2198 / vol. 1

In January 1912 the main party, led by Douglas Mawson was established at the base at Commonwelath Bay. The Western Party then left on the Aurora to find a location for the second base which was eventually established on the Shackleton Ice shelf.

Frequent gales interfered however, & the last load was not landed until the 19th January, & our farewells over, the “Aurora" steamed away ....to the West to find if possible another landing place for my party, Mawson’s instructions being that this must not be less than four hundred miles from the main base.

For a few hours only we were able to keep within five miles of the land, & then the ship was forced to the north by impenetrable pack for three days, when we were able to make south again. We sailed over the charted positions of Cote Clarie & Cape Carr & soon afterwards sighted new land but were unable to get within twelve miles. Several days of southerly gales drove us again to the north, & driving snow rendered everything invisible. Collisions with icebergs were frequently averted with only a few yards to spare. When the weather cleared again our observations placed us on Sabrina Land so that also was wiped off the charts.

Battling on to the west we passed within a few miles of Totton High Land, also charted by Wilkes, but saw nothing of it. I have never seen so many icebergs in sight at the same time as we encountered on this trip. From the “Aurora’s" masthead one morning I counted one hundred & twenty seven & many others must have been hidden by high ones in the foreground. One thing about these icebergs we appreciated thoroughly was the shelter they afford in bad weather. A ship can ride out a gale under the lee of a large berg as comfortably as though in harbour. The largest iceberg I have ever seen was forty miles long & fifteen wide with an average height of two hundred feet, which would mean sixteen hundred feet under water, a fairly open sea bounded on the east by a huge ice shelf & on the south by new land. Unfortunately twenty five miles of solid unbroken floe anything from ten to forty feet thick prevented us reaching the land. By this time the coal supply on the Aurora was getting very low & it was necessary to make a landing somewhere or return to Hobart with the “Aurora". The latter could not be thought of & I asked Captain Davis to take the ship as near the iceshelf as possible, so that I might make an examination of it with a view to making our base upon it.

The Western Party was landed on the Shackleton Ice Shelf, in the vicinity of Queen Mary Land, by the SY Aurora on 15 February 1912.

You can also listen to an account of the search for a landing place in the interview with Morton Moyes recorded by Ros Bowden in 1977

Mapping of Antarctica, presentation by Professor Robert Clancy, 1 February

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:47:48 +1100

On Wednesday 1 February, in association with the Finding Antarctica exhibition. Professor Robert Clancy will be giving a presentation on the Mapping of Antarctica, 6 pm to 7 pm in the Dixson Room, State Library of New South Wales.

Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy has had a distinguished career as a clinical immunologist. He has been awarded an AM for services to cartography (as a collector of early maps of Australia) and to the field of immunology. Professor Clancy’s talk will focus on his knowledge of the historical Antarctic maps.

$25 Adult, $20 Seniors, $15 Friends Bookings

Alexander Dalrymple and a great southern continent

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:08:21 +1100

In 1767, Alexander Dalrymple published An account of the discoveries made in the south Pacifick Ocean, previous to 1764. According to Dalrymple a giant, unknown southern continent lay in the Pacific Ocean, somewhere between 28°S and 40°S latitude. Cook's second voyage disproved Dalrymple's theory on the existence of this great southern continent. The Library has recently digitised Dalrymple's published account from 1767 along with a number of his published charts held in the collection. This material can be viewed through the Voyages of discovery pages on the website.

Chart of the South Pacifick Ocean, pointing out the discoveries made therein previous to 1764, Q77/41

Mapping James Cook's Antarctica

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:23:22 +1100

A section of the Finding Antarctic exhibition focuses on the achievements of James Cook in the discovery and mapping of Antarctica. Cook's original sketch of his proposed route for the second voyage, contained within A map of the southern hemi-sphere shewing the discoveries made in the Southern Ocean up to 1770 is included in the exhibition. On his second voyage (1772–75), during a voyage of 100,000 km, Cook sailed south of the Antarctic Circle (at 66?30’S) on three occasions, proving that the southern landmass was neither as large or as habitable as once thought.

The Library holds a number of maps documenting Cook's 2nd voyage crossing the Antarctic circle - not all of them could be selected for the exhibition.

This decorative map of the southern hemisphere by Giovanni Cassini shows the tracks of Cook's voyages. It is not included in the exhibition.

Emisfero terrestre meridionale delineato secondo le ultime osservazioni con i viaggi, e nuove scoperte del Cap. Cook , 1789, Z/M2 140/1789/1

Giovanni Maria Cassini (1745 - 1824) was an Italian globe maker, geographer and engraver active in the late 18th and early 19th century. Cassini is best known as a globe maker and is considered the last of the great 18th century globe makers.

Penguins on Ice - Tuesday 10 January

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:23:07 +1100

Historian and Antarctic guide Stephen Martin talks about the long history between people and penguins. From food staple to the exotic inhabitants of the frozen south, penguins - often seen as adorable, friendly creatures - have been a significant part of the human imagination for the last 500 years. This event is part of the Tuesdays in the Galleries series. Tuesday 10 January 2012 Time: 6.00 PM to 7.00 PM Venue: Galleries Cost: Free, Registrations Required Register

Moyes like a 2 year old after 10 weeks of loneliness

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:52:30 +1100

On the 6th of January, 1913, the Eastern sledging party, led by Frank Wild, returned to the Western Base. For over 9 weeks Morton Moyes, left alone at the base had waited...and hoped.... for their return.

The following extracts are taken from the diaries of Morton Moyes and Charles Turnbull Harrisson. A small sample from the records held by the Library from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

Charles Turnbull Harrisson diary, 1 January-12 April 1913, MLMSS 386/Item Monday, Jan. 6^th

.....Watched eagerly for Moyes, for I was anxious about him. When about half a mile off, some vague recollections seemed to awake in the dog’s brains – if they have any - & they trotted ahead, hesitating, & looking back to make sure we were following. We remarked that if Chucks found a bone - & Zip saw him – Morton would be roused out quickly enough! A dog-fight would be about the last thing Moyes would expect to hear. Still no signs of the hermit – so about 150 yds off, we struck up a rousing “marching chorus”. Oh how relieved I felt when I saw Morton rush round the corner of the hut, bare-headed; waved his hands to us - then, seeing that there were 4 of us in the team, stood on his head for joy! He was amongst us in another minute or two, shaking hands all round. “Oh you renegade!” shaking his head at me, & wringing my hand, “You renegade!” – and his feelings almost over-came him, - he almost broke down for a moment. So all talking & laughing, we reached the hut, sail swelling, - flags flying – for we had “dressed ship” about 2 miles out – And the long Eastern trip was over. Alas the whole length of it, outward & return, was only the distance we hoped to go on the outward trip alone. It was about noon when we arrived, & talked away, telling why & wherefore we had returned so soon, & why I had to go on with the party. Poor Moyes was delighted to have mates again. Was almost forgetting his English, he said. The Western party did not get away until the 7^th Nov. – the day after we arrived at the Hippo. So Morton had been over 8 weeks by himself. He had looked day by day for my return, - every time he came up from the Floe he would look eagerly for sledge marks, - & of course speculated upon all the mischances that might have happened to me, or to the whole party. He had repaired the other tent & poles, & with a good load of tucker, for the two & for the dogs, started out. Had difficulty getting tent up by himself & eyes got bad. So turned back after getting to Harrisson Is. Fell into a crevasse, but hauled himself out with his harness. Hoped that I had passed him upon the way, & that he would find me at the hut. He was counting the days until Feb. should come, & one of the parties return, or the ship arrive. “It was dreadful,” he told me, “I would go out sit down & look round. Only glare of sun & glare of snow. No wind. No sound. No signs of life of any kind!” Fortunately plenty to do. The grotto leaked water until all icicles from roof to floor then fell in, so Moyes had to build a hatchway at the door of the verandah. Snow has not melted as we expected. Is up to the eaves – over, most of the way round, except for a yd. or so in front. Scarcely more than roof of hut showing from even in front.

Morton Henry Moyes diary, MLMSS 388

Monday Jan. 6^th

Changed after breakfast & then wrote up notes till 12. Sat for a read till 1. At 12.30 seemed to hear ‘the Capital Ship’ tune which sounded so real that I rushed outside, & nearly crazy with delight saw a sledge party approaching with all flags set. Joyfully, I counted 4 men & stood on my head, recognising that Harrisson must be one. They had a wildly exciting time over wonderful but impossible country. Harrisson had to go on as the depot sledge had blown away, & they had to have two. Meanwhile they have been in much the same state about me as I have about Harrisson. Rest of day spent in reciprocating yarns, feel like a 2 year old tonight after my 10 weeks loneliness. Gave them a jolly fine feed all day.

Drake sails beyond Tierra del Fuego

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:26:49 +1100

Another map which didn't make it into the exhibition...

In 1578 Sir Francis Drake sailed through the Straits of Magellan on his voyage to circumnavigate the world. As the Golden Hind entered the Pacific the ship was blown off course to the south, well below Tierra del Fuego. The existence of a passage, later to be named Drake's Passage, separating Tierra del Fuego at the base of South America and the Antarctic was later confirmed by Jacques Le Maire and Willem Corneliszoon Schouten in 1616.

This map is from Theodor De Bry's multi volume work documenting the earliest expeditions to the Americas. It is an engraved reduction of a c.1595 map by Hondius, tracking Drake's circumnavigation of the world from 1577 to 1580. Between the two hemispheres is Drake's portrait and an image of the Golden Hind.

Map of the world showing Drake's voyage 1599 Q6/15 pt. 8

Frank Hurley's Antarctica

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:43:45 +1100

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. The Library has a feature on Hurley's Antarctica as part of our Discover Collections series. The feature includes excerpts from Hurley's 1912 sledging diary and a selection of magnificant photographs from the Hurley collections held at the Library.

Hurley amongst Adelie penguins, aae_36506

Christmas Day for Morton Moyes

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +1100

Morton Henry Moyes (1886–1981) was appointed to the Western Base Party of the AAE as a meteorologist. During the autumn and spring of 1912, Moyes took part in several sledging journeys. In November 1912 eastern and western sledging journeys were planned. The intention was for Morton Moyes and Charles Turnbull Harrisson to stay at the base camp. However, Harrisson persuaded Wild to let him accompany the Eastern party as far as Hippo Island. Moyes agreed to remain alone at the hut in Harrisson’s absence — but just for three weeks. As it turned out, Harrisson remained with the sledging party and Moyes spent nine weeks on his own at the winter quarters on Shackleton Ice Shelf.

An excerpt from Moyes' diary - Christmas Day 1912

Wed. Dec. 25^th

I’ve spent some strange Christmas Days but this beats the lot. Finished in a fitting manner at tea. Started to light the fire at5.30 p.m.& could not get the small amount of meat I eat, done till 8.35. Then had to make custard for the pudding after that.

Developed some negatives & took some views of the Cliff Icicles this afternoon. Also got a Skua Gull on my way back. The dirtiest looking sky I’ve seen tonight, & I’ll be surprised if its not blowing some by the morning. I’ve battened down hatches, & got in snug for it, including plenty of ice, & 2 gulls to skin. I’m glad of it, as the floe is not going out far enough, & it will also make some tide cracks. The old hut is crackling more than usual tonight as the wind must be getting up. Happy Xmas to all thinking of me to-day. I read the Christmas Service in bed this morning. I bet they are saying ‘3 weeks to-day’ at Adelie Land. Its about 7 p.m.there now tho’, so its over for them.

Temp. 20 to 34. Bar. 29. Wind ESE.

Moyes on nightwatch duty at "The Grottoes", ON 144/H406