Art & Heritage Collections

Treasures from Sir Douglas Mawson's expeditions to Antarctica can be found in the University's Earth and Environmental Sciences Collection on display in the Tate Museum (Mawson Building, North Terrace Campus).

Mawson worked at the University for 50 years until 1958, when he retired at the age of 70. His work as a geologist is overshadowed by his heroic explorer label. It is particularly important to think of his explorer extraordinaire status now as we are marking a centenary of the 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition. This was the ill-fated expedition which ended as a most incredible tale of human survival.

On display in the Museum are various rocks, implements and photographs documenting Mawson's Antarctic expeditions. For us in Art & Heritage, these snow goggles (pictured) are the best of the items - made of fabric and using the new material of the early 20th century, bakelite, to hold the lenses in place.

Come and see them in Tate Museum or join us for a special Mawson tour from February 2012 and hear his story.

For more information email art.heritage@adelaide.edu.au or call 08 8303 3086

Mirna Heruc, Manager, Art & Heritage Collections