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Antarctica Collection

Museum Victoria holds a significant collection of items relating to the history of Antarctic exploration. These items are mostly images, items of clothing, scientific instruments, artefacts relating to expeditioners' entertainments, philatelic items from Antarctica and medals and other awards. They range through the entire history of Antarctic exploration from early maritime exploration of Antarctica through the Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration to the modern era of scientific exploration and Antarctic tourism.

The main collection groups are:

Phillip Law Collection: Phillip Garth Law (1912-2010) led the Australian exploration of Antarctica for 17 years as Director of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE). During this period ANARE operated from Melbourne. Following his retirement in 1966, Law actively promoted Antarctic heritage and compiled an extensive historical collection relating to Antarctic exploration and research. The Phillip Law Collection of over 1400 items, includes photos, clothing, philatelic covers, banners and plaques - mostly items used by, or presented to Dr Law.

George Rayner Collection: Rayner was a British photographer and biologist based at the research station at Grytviken in the Falkland Islands from around 1928 to 1939. He took part in a number of sub-Antarctic voyages as a member of the scientific staff of the Discovery II research vessel. The primary focus of his research was to establish the seasonal migration patterns of whales. Discovery II and Rayner also participated in the rescue of American aviator Lincoln Ellsworth in 1935-36. Rayner was also an avid photographer of his sub-Antarctic environment. The collection includes photos, clothing, camera and trunk.

The Antarctic Collection also includes items from earlier expeditions including those of Robert Scott (1901-1904), Ernest Shackleton (1907-09 and 1914-17) and Douglas Mawson (1911-1914 and 1929-1931). It includes clothing from Scott's Discovery expedition, an ice sledge used by Bertram Armytage on Shackleton's Nimrod expedition and meteorological equipment from the Ross Sea party of Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic Expedition. There is also material from modern expeditions to Antarctica, Antarctic tourism and environmental campaigns relating to Antarctica.

Items per page: 10 50 (showing 101 - 110) 138 items

Photograph - by George Rayner, Antarctica, circa 1920s

Photograph taken during an expedition to Antarctica, circa 1928. Probably taken by George Rayner.

Images: 1
Transparency - by George Rayner, Antarctica, 1937-1945

Two men inspecting a recently slaughtered seal.

Images: 1
Socks - Multicoloured, George Rayner, 1927-1939

Pair of multi-coloured hand-knitted socks. Worn by British biologist and photographer George Rayner in Antarctica between 1927 and 1939. This is part of Museum Victoria's collection of ...

From: Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Images: 1
No Image Available

Socks - Red Wool, Ian Macleod, Prince Charles Mountains, 1969

Pair of Army pattern red wool/nylon mixture socks. These socks were issued to Australian geologist Ian Mcleod and used by him in the 1969 ANARE Expedition including a field trip to the ...

Images: 0
No Image Available

Medal - Companion in the Order of Australia, Australia, 1995

Australia Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) 1995 (AD) Awarded to Dr Phillip G. Law Other Details: Companion in the Order of Australia medal, awarded to Dr Phillip Law. Law was ...

From: Canterbury, Australia Images: 0
No Image Available

Socks - Grey Ragg, Ian Macleod, 1957

Pair of long grey or white socks. Australian geologist Ian Mcleod and used by him in expeditions to the Antarctic during the late 1950s and in the 1960s. This is part of Museum Victoria ...

Images: 0
Medal - Professional Officers' Association, Australia, 1957

Bronze medal awarded by Professional Officers' Association to Dr. Philip Law in 1957. Designed by Andor Meszaros and minted by Pinches, London. Dr Philip Law led Australia's scientific ...

From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2
No Image Available

Medal Miniature - Awarded to Dr Phillip Garth Law, 1952-1977, Australia, circa 1952-1977

Australia and Great Britain Other Details: Collection of dress miniature medals, court-mounted, including: Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) 1975 Commander of the Order of the Brit ...

From: Canterbury, Australia Images: 0
Socks - Australian Navy, Phillip Law, 1947-1948

Pair of grey wool socks, Navy issue. They were used by ANARE Director Phil Law on the vessels Wyatt Earp and the Labuan between 1947 - 1951. They were for shipboard use only and not use ...

Images: 1
Photograph - by George Rayner, South Georgia, Dec 1932

Photograph taken on 11 December 1932 during an expedition to Antarctica and sub-antarctic islands. Probably taken by George Rayner.

Images: 1