The Silence Calling: Australians in Antarctica 1947-97

654 Pages·1997·20.79 MB·English

by  Tim Bowden

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Australians in Antarctica 1947–97
T H E A N A R E J U B I L E E H I S T O R Y
T B
I M O W D E N
ALLEN & UNWIN
Copyright The Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Sports and
Territories, and Tim Bowden 1997
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by
any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from
the publisher.
First published in 1997 by
Allen & Unwin
9 Atchison Street
St Leonards NSW 2065
Australia
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.allen-unwin.com.au
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:
Phone: [phone]
Bowden, Tim, 1937-.
The silence calling: Australians in Antarctica 1947–97.
Bibliography.
Includes index.
ISBN 1 86448 311 3 (hbk.)
ISBN 1 86448 406 3 (limited ed.).
1. Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions -
History. 2. Scientific expeditions - Antarctica - History.
3. Antarctica - Research - Australia - History. I. Title.
507.20989
Designed by Textart
Set in 11pt New Baskerville
Printed by Brown Prior Anderson Pty Ltd, Burwood, Vic.
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FOR THE MEN AND THE WOMEN OF ANARE

F
O R E W O R D
I
n 1947 the Australian Government established the Australian
National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) and, for the
first time in Australian history, assumed full responsibility for Antarctic
exploration and research and for financing all the operations. From
this small and tentative beginning, the ANARE has developed rapidly
into a large and complex organisation, maintaining Antarctic and sub-
Antarctic stations and carrying out extensive exploration and scientific
research.
ANARE activities were directed to the 6000 kilometre coastline of
the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) and the vast, almost completely
unexplored hinterland. The sheer magnitude of the ANARE task pro-
duced a breadth of approach and an attitude of mind rather different
from those of nations whose fields of operation in Antarctica were much
more circumscribed.
Fortune favoured the Australian endeavours. An early start gave
ANARE time to consolidate before the advent of the International
Geophysical Year (IGY), with consequent benefits in scientific achieve-
ments during that momentous period. Moreover, being the first post-war
expeditions to seek bases in AAT, the ANARE had the pick of the acces-
sible sites.
The selection of the Mawson and Davis sites was fortuitous. I was not
to know of the existence of the Prince Charles Mountains inland from
Mawson or that of the huge Lambert Glacier. These, together with the
Amery Ice Shelf and the ice-free areas of the Vestfold Hills, the Larsemann
Hills and the islands of Prydz Bay, presented fascinating fields for explo-
ration and scientific studies. vii
T H E S I L E N C E C A L L I N G
The Americans had discovered the Windmill Islands and built Wilkes
Station in that region for the IGY. When Australia took over this base
from the USA, another extremely interesting complex was opened to
Australian researchers, while the inland ice plateau and Law Dome paid
handsome dividends for ANARE glaciologists.
The mountainous regions of Kemp Land and Enderby Land at the
western, and Oates Land at the eastern, extremities of AAT completed
the vast canvas across which ANARE operations over a fifty-year period
were to extend.
Patterns of Antarctic adventure had been set in the early years of this
century, but those men had no monopoly of heroic endeavour. Countless
numbers of young people from many nations have, over successive
decades, risked their lives and achieved prodigious accomplishments in
the face of the extreme hazards and difficulties of the Antarctic environment.
Amongst them the men and women of ANARE stand proudly and
Tim Bowden’s history is a monument to their efforts.
Phillip G Law
AC, CBE, MSc, DAppSc(Hon.Melb), DEd
(Hon.Vic), DSc(Hon.LaTrobe), Hon.
FRMIT, FANZAAS, FAIP, FRSV, FTSE,
FAA and Director, Australian
Antarctic Division 1949–66
viii
C
O N T E N T S
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .VII
PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .XI
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .XIV
ACRONYMSANDABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .XVII
ANARE TIMELINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .XX
INTRODUCTION: FLYINGTHEFLAG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
THE BEGINNING 1947–1953 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1 BIRTHOFANARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2 HEARDISLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
3 MACQUARIEISLANDANDPUSHINGSOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
4 THEFIRSTOPERATIONALYEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
5 EARLYDAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
6 TESTINGTIMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPLORATION 1954–1966 . . . . . . . . . . . .97
7 BREAKINGTHEICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
8 EARLYEXPLORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
9 VIRGINTERRITORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
10 SPREADINGWINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
11 ANTARCTICAINTERNATIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
12 1959—AYEARTOREMEMBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
13 ANARE LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
14 FILLINGINTHEMAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232
15 WHYAREWETHERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259
ix