Theme 01

Science

In the late nineteenth century, many scientists focused on collecting evidence about how our planet works and the animals and plants that inhabit it.

The Southern Cross scientists assembled data from a part of the Earth that was then largely unknown. Their findings continue to inform scientific understanding to this day.

Louis Bernacchi taking magnetic readings in the pack ice, 1899

Canterbury Museum 1978.207.125. No known copyright holder

THE SOUTH MAGNETIC POLE

The Earth’s magnetic field influences many things, including compass navigation. Louis Bernacchi’s magnetic survey helped scientists better understand its action in Antarctica.

The magnetic field revolves around two polar points and Bernacchi was able to identify the true location of the South Magnetic Pole in February 1900. The expedition had hoped to reach the South Magnetic Pole by land but had to be content with demonstrating its location scientifically.

The South Magnetic Pole moves about 15 km a year and is different to the Geographic South Pole.
Sunshine recorder

Campbell-Stokes Sunshine recorder chart

Canterbury Museum 19XX.4.2

The Campbell-Stokes Glass Sphere Sunshine Recorder mounted on a Stevenson screen shelter which houses temperature gauges, Ridley Beach, Cape Adare, c1899

Norwegian Polar Institute 001287. All Rights Reserved

Campbell-Stokes Glass Sphere Sunshine Recorder mounted on a Stevenson screen shelter which houses temperature gauges, Ridley Beach, Cape Adare
METEOROLOGY

Under Louis Bernacchi’s leadership, the Southern Cross team collected a full year of weather readings. For the first time, scientists could track the seasonal variations in Antarctic sunshine, temperature and wind. Their data set the baseline for Antarctic climate science.

This chart from the Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder indicates that the sun shone for 6.75 hours at Cape Adare on 5 October 1899.

Per Savio or Ole Must and another man cut a fishing hole in the ice at Cape Adare

Per Savio or Ole Must and another man cut a fishing hole in the ice, c1899

Norwegian Polar Institute 001149. All Rights Reserved

ZOOLOGY

Animal, fish and insect specimens were collected in the warmer seasons. They were skinned, preserved and mounted, intended for research collections in European museums. Unfortunately, many of the specimens were in poor condition by the time they reached London. A number of Nicolai Hanson’s notebooks were also lost after his death, undermining the value of the expedition’s significant zoological work.

Fishing revealed new species for science, as well as supplementing the men’s diet.

Anemograph

Munro Cup Counter Anemograph used at Cape Adare

Canterbury Museum 175.102

HARNESSING THE GALES

This anemograph was used by the Northern Party of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova expedition to measure the wind speed at Cape Adare. The Southern Cross team used similar equipment, but theirs was destroyed by the force of the winds they encountered. Louis Bernacchi recorded gales on 72 days during the 11 months they spent at Cape Adare.

Over the years, the wind has destroyed the tents of numerous explorers, as well as transporting huge chunks of ice and the contents of entire small lakes around the beach. The Cape Adare wind has also eroded up to half the thickness of some of the timber boards on Carsten Borchgrevink’s huts.

See More
The first winter
Exploration

BREAKING THE ICE


Before the world had heard of Scott and Shackleton, another explorer hatched a plan to spend a year in Antarctica. He was Carsten Borchgrevink, and he and his team proved it was possible for humans to survive the Antarctic winter.

Southern Cross ship leaving Hobart, Tasmania
01
01

The Southern Cross expedition

Carsten Borchgrevink and nine others spent a year in Antarctica, cut off from the rest of the world.

See More

Southern Cross expedition scientific staff
02
02

The first people

Carsten Borchgrevink’s shore party were the first people ever to live on the Antarctic mainland.

See More

Cape Adare huts credit Richie Hunter
03
03

The first buildings

Cape Adare is one of Antarctica's harshest places, but the expedition's buildings have survived for more than a century.

See More

Ole Must, William Colbeck and Persen Savio with puppies
04
04

The first dogs

The Southern Cross was the first expedition to use dogs in Antarctica.

See More

Anton Fougner, Hugh Evans and William Colbeck at work in huts on Southern Cross expedition Cape Adare
05
05

The first winter

The men of the Southern Cross lived through 72 days of total darkness.

See More

Louis Bernacchi taking readings during Southern Cross expedition
06
06

Science

The Southern Cross scientists assembled data from a part of the Earth that was then largely unknown.

See More

Ridge above Cape Adare
07
07

Exploration

The expedition's attempts to explore the ice taught them about Antarctica's deadly storms and fickle sea ice.

See More

Terra Nova Northern Party members Victor Campbell, George Murray Levick and Raymond Priestley prepare to leave Cape Adare, 1912
08
08

A Second Team at Cape Adare

In 1911, Cape Adare became home to the Northern Party of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition.

See More

Torb Prytz at Cape Adare C AHT Lizzie Meek
09
09

Antarctic Heritage Trust

Antarctic Heritage Trust is a New Zealand-based charity with a vision of inspiring explorers.

See More