Theme 01

The Southern Cross expedition

The expedition’s goals were to explore, contribute to science and look for commercial opportunities. The details were sketchy, but Carsten Borchgrevink and nine others were to spend a year in Antarctica, cut off from the rest of the world.

One of them would die, their hut would catch fire, arguments would fester unresolved and almost every man would regret his decision to take part. But Borchgrevink’s expedition did establish several major Antarctic firsts which influenced the course of history for decades to come.

Left: The Southern Cross leaving Hobart, 17 December 1898. Canterbury Museum 1978.207.120. No known copyright holder

The deck of the Southern Cross, 1898. Canterbury Museum 1978.207.23. No known copyright holder



Cargo on deck of Southern Cross en route to Antarctica
FAREWELL TO THE KNOWN WORLD

With food and equipment for 3 years stuffed into every available space, the Southern Cross left London in August 1898. A huge crowd cheered the men on their way, while the dogs howled back from the deck.

The ship travelled south for the remainder of the year, stopping in Hobart for final provisioning. In December, the expedition departed the Hobart docks, saying farewell to the comforts of everyday life.

Union Jacks on dispay at Cape Adare huts built by Southern Cross expedition

The first New Year’s Day in Antarctica, Cape Adare, 1900

Norwegian Polar Institute 066272. All Rights Reserved

Union Jack flag

Antarctic Heritage Trust 11343.1

AX650 190502

The Southern Cross departed with over 500 Union Jack flags on board. They proved useful on celebration days like New Year.

This wind-battered example is the only one that survives at Cape Adare

Sir George Newnes. From Carsten Borchgrevink’s book First on the Antarctic Continent, published by George Newnes Ltd, London, 1901

Portrait of George Newnes
A PRIVATE SPONSOR

English publishing magnate Sir George Newnes funded the expedition. He had his eye on the story sales that would result from the daring exploits. Newnes’ investment was £35,000, a staggering NZ$7.6 million today.

See More
The first people

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