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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 61 - 70) 138 items

Suitcase - Brown Leather, circa 1954-1966

Suitcase used by Phillip Law in Antarctica, circa 1954 - 1966. This is part of Museum Victoria's collection of artefacts from the post-war era of scientific exploration of Antarctica. ...

Images: 1
Mittens - US Army, Brown Leather, 1954-1966

U.S. Army issue trigger finger mittens/gloves, circa 1954. Some of these mittens/gloves were purchased for use by individual ANARE personnel, however they were not in general use by ANA ...

Images: 1
Compass - Andrew Jack, Trans- Antarctic Expedition, Ross Sea Party, 1914-1917

Compass used by Andrew Jack on sledging journeys as part of the Ross Sea party of the Trans- Antarctic Expedition 1914-1917 led by Ernest Shackleton. This is part of Museum Victoria's c ...

Images: 1
Matchbox - Safety Match Box, Bryant & May, circa 1911

Bryant and May Patent Safety Match Box collected by Australian Antarctic Division Director, Dr Phillip Law from Mawson's Huts, which were constructed during the Australasian Antarctic E ...

Images: 2
Dip Circle - Meyerstein, Douglas Mawson, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914

Dip Circle in wooden case manufactured by Moritz Meyerstein. A Dip Circle is a geophysical instrument used to determine the inclination of the Earth's magnetic field to the horizontal a ...

Images: 4
Mittens - Japanese, Yellow, circa 1954

Japanese issue mittens, presented to Australian Antarctic Division Director Dr Phillip Law by the Japanese Antarctic Expedition. They are part of Museum Victoria's collection of artefa ...

Images: 1
Menu - Thala Dan, Daily Menu, 30 Dec 1959

Daily menu for the Thala Dan on 30 December 1959 while Hope Macpherson was travelling on board during her first expedition to the Antarctic. Hope Macpherson was the first female curato ...

Images: 3
Telegram - Hope Macpherson to Her Family, Home New Year's Day, Macquarie Island, Dec 1959

International telegram from Hope Macpherson while on Macquarie Island in December 1959 advising family she would be home on New Year's Day. Hope Macpherson was the first female curator ...

Images: 1
Cap - Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE), Blue Vinyl, post 1966

Blue vinyl cap issued by ANARE for use in Antarctica sometime after 1966. This is part of Museum Victoria's collection of artefacts from the post-war era of scientific exploration of A ...

Images: 1
Photograph - by George Rayner, Antarctica, circa 1920s

Photograph probably taken by George Rayner. The ?William Scoresby? was a purpose-designed research vessel built for the Discovery Committee by the East Yorkshire shipyard of Cook, Welt ...

Images: 2