because they were waiting for the State Prestrud, Johansen argued with Amundsen Government to do it and that the Elliot in front of his men and was promptly government had not done anything because dismissed from the Polar Team. While in they assumed the council would. Nothing Hobart he drank heavily and was sent back ever eventuated from either authority! to London separately from those on the Fram. He received much criticism when he Ten days after he had arrived in Hobart, returned to Oslo. He killed himself in 1913. on Monday 18 March, Amundsen was To the British press this seemed further proof invited to attend a meeting of the Royal that Amundsen was a tyrant and completely Society. This meeting was held in the Royal ruthless about his expedition. To Norwegians Society Rooms at the Tasmanian Museum it was a sad reminder of the absolute need for and Art Gallery and the main business of the a legitimate chain of command for all night was J.W. Beattie’s illustrated lecture Antarctic Expeditions to ensure the safety of “The Physiography of Tasmania”. The the group. audience included Admiral King-Hall, the Premier Neil Elliot Lewis, the Anglican Fram left Hobart on Wednesday 20 bishop of Tasmania, Mercer, as well as March for Buenos Aires. Amundsen himself Amundsen and J.K. Davis, the captain of travelled by train to Launceston and then Aurora. Amundsen was welcomed and in took a steamer to Melbourne for the start of his reply he referred to both the former his lecture tour through the mainland states. governor of Van Diemen’s Land, John The arrival and presence of the Norwegian Franklin, and the James Clark Ross Antarctic ship and crew brought much attention to expedition. Ross, he said, was one of the Hobart, its services and its location. We had greatest explorers. He also, diplomatically, become familiar with the idea that we could mentioned Captain Scott commenting that host and provide everything required for he was not sure if he (Amundsen) had been Antarctic Expeditions here in our small city. the first to the South Pole and that it would be better to wait a while and hear what Scott There is a connection too in the had to say. He also wished Mawson every circumstances of Amundsen’s death. When success. Referring to Hobart he said that it in 1928 Amundsen was talking to the press was a city with unique opportunities for about the rescue of Umberto Nobile who exploration of the Antarctic. had flown Amundsen’s own airship over the North Pole, and become lost, One episode that is seldom referred to is Amundsen said again that like many of the that of Johansen. Hjalmar Johansen (1867 – explorers of the heroic era, Sir John 1913) was a hero to Norwegians after joining Franklin, the former Governor of Tasmania, Fridtjof Nansen on several trips to the Arctic, had been his role model – the man whose and so Johansen was chosen to join example started him on a career as an Amundsen on the expedition. However, explorer. Ironically in searching for Nobile, Johansen argued with Amundsen about their Amundsen disappeared in an area that is early start for the Pole – too early, said not all that far from where Franklin himself Johansen. On another occasion, after rescuing disappeared in the far north polar regions. By 1911 Hobart was attuned to New Town, and they went through During the evening of Friday 8 March, well as a cinematographer, E.H. Biggins (who Amundsen’s mail. His next move was to the telegrams began to pour in as the world took moving images of life on the Fram the sight and sound of Antarctic Hobart General Post Office where he sent his realised that Amundsen had won the Race to including of the officers and crew and the Expeditions. During the previous Norwegian telegrams to King Haakon VII of the Pole. The next day, Saturday, the Mercury transfer of the dogs). During the early part of the decade the port of Hobart had Norway, Fridtjof Nansen (his mentor) and then reprinted the Daily Chronicle article with the week the Derwent Sailing Squadron had offered to his own brother Leon. Heading AMUNDSEN REACHES SOUTH honorary membership of the club to Amundsen accommodated the ships of POLE and there was an editorial comment. and he wrote a thank you back to the secretary, Amundsen had experienced troubles various expeditions to the south: Mr. H. Peacock, on that Wednesday. Amundsen before after expeditions when news of his On the Monday, Macfarlane dined with was also invited onto Aurora and there he Bull, Borchgrevink, Mawson success had escaped before he could first tell Amundsen at his home in New Town. inspected everything very closely. his sponsors and his king. This time there Macfarlane and his brother were the successful and others. So when the would be none of that. Consequently, prior to owners of a shipping firm and James was a At the end of the week the Norwegians Fram sailed into the Derwent in sending his telegrams, Amundsen and his fellow of the Royal Geographical society as were opening up a little. Amundsen gave some March 1912 it was exciting but crew were silent about what they had done. In well as the Norwegian Consul for Tasmania. positive but cautious comments on the the book about the voyage of the Fram, the This speaks of a man who had influence as Mawson Expedition and Lieutenant Prestrud not really a novelty. Until, that is, Captain commented that well as interests in exploration. talked about his Eastern Expedition from the Hobart’s citizens realised just Bay of Whales. On the Sunday (17 March) one On Tuesday 12 March, the ship of of the events that probably made the crew of The first week was quiet on board, as what Amundsen had done and Mawson’s Australian Antarctic Expedition Fram feel more at home was a visit to the farm what he had come to Hobart to owing to the circumstances, there (AAE), the Aurora entered port and, as she of the Dane Otto Andersen at Bismark (today motored up the Derwent River, she dipped her was no communication with the called Collinsvale). Andersen had invited tell the world. flag in recognition of Amundsen’s great feat, Lieutenant Jensen and most of the crew shore; but after that the ship was full and her crew gave three cheers for the Fram. The Fram appeared unannounced in the (including three of those who went to the Pole The next day, Wednesday 13 March, Davis and Derwent on Thursday, 7 March, 1912. After a of visitors, so that we were not very – Bjaaland, Hassel and Hanssen) to lunch and Eitel (the secretary of Mawson’s AAE) visited flurry of signals to the Mount Nelson signal afternoon tea. The party was loaned a coach, sorry to get away again. Amundsen on the Fram and in return station she stated that she was “Fram from the horses and a driver for the journey and there Amundsen went for lunch on the Aurora. Bay of Whales”. She then dropped anchor some was much joy at being able to speak their own During his first visit Davis commented on the distance off Battery Point and, after a time, On the next day, Friday 8 March, a long language during the pleasant day. The road to fact that Amundsen’s stern features were Roald Amundsen the expedition leader came telegram was sent (it is unclear if Amundsen, Bismark was rough and steep but the social “capable of breaking into a ready and charming ashore with the Harbour Master on the launch Prestrud or Nilsen sent it) to his financial engagement was a great success. smile”. Percy Gray, the 2nd officer on Aurora saw Egeria. The fact that the Fram did not dock supporters at the Daily Chronicle. This things differently. He felt very sorry for his old Local businesses were quick to use the immediately is likely to have been, in part, due telegraph allegedly cost £198! Then, one source friend Wild who now could not attain the Pole visits of not one but two expedition vessels in to the fact that Amundsen’s dogs had not been suggests, Amundsen went to the Hobart first: he also suggested—probably correctly— the port. Propsting and Morris, booksellers of through the usual quarantine checks. After this photographer, J.W. Beattie where he engaged that Amundsen’s success would in all Liverpool Street, had a wonderful exhibition in there are conflicting accounts of the exact order Beattie to develop his glass negatives (some of likelihood end that type of polar exploration. their front windows of Antarctic paraphernalia of events. Amundsen’s own diary claims that which remain in the Tasmanian Museum and Frank Wild of course was the leader of the donated by both expeditions. This was all to he went first to Hadley’s Orient Hotel and, Art Gallery). Beattie therefore, or his assistant AAE’s Western Party. advertise a series of Antarctic maps bearing despite some initial troubles about being Searle, was probably the first person in the world to see a picture of the South Pole. It Amundsen’s signature. All profits, generously, recognised (according to Huntford, and During these visits, Amundsen organised to seems probable that the plates were developed were donated to charity: in this case the Amundsen’s diary, he was treated like a have 21 of the Norwegian Huskies transferred during the afternoon and evening of Friday 8 Consumptive Sanatorium. However, some tramp), he was given a room there: a fairly to the Aurora – although why they wanted the March. In 2010 the Norsk Film Institute, in a local citizens were concerned that Amundsen small room. It was not, however, the wonderful dogs for the relief trip to Antarctica is unclear. paper attached to moving images as well as had not been given an official, public welcome. Amundsen Suite that graces the hotel today. The Wednesday visit by Davis and Eitel allowed still photos of the expedition , refers to the At a meeting of the Tourist Association on them to have lunch on board with Amundsen Then it seems that Amundsen was taken to glass plates being developed by Edward Searle Monday 18 March, Mr. Seager urged and Lieutenant Nilsen (Fram’s captain and the home of the Norwegian consul, James in Hobart while working for J.W. Beattie – but authorities to hold such a welcome. The next second in charge over all) and later that day the Macfarlane, at Newlands in Augusta Road, they put the date at later in the week. day The Mercury went further by suggesting Fram was visited by the Danish vice-Consul as that the council had not organised anything