Douglas Mawson's Expedition Goals

Unlike other Antarctic explorers, Douglas Mawson's goal was not for wealth or fame. Instead, he wanted to improve scientific research for the Southern Pole. He had despised that whalers and fishermen had only gone to the icy continent for their own personal as well as financial gain. He was disappointed that explorers were going to Antarctica solely for the purpose of being the first to reach the continent.

Douglas Mawson's boat

Mawson's success also came with a few tragedies. A few of his men had died from the freezing cold, one of his men even accused Mawson of putting him under a magnetic spell. Thanks to the Antarctic journey covered by Douglas Mawson, he was able to record Earth's magnetic fields in Antarctica for 18 months at Commonwealth Bay. Douglas Mawson died knowing that his goal was achieved, he helped to gain scientific knowledge of the South Polar continent.

A picture of Commonwealth Bay