Mawson’s Huts 26 FEB 2014 Foundation

Postal History & Philatelic items produced to commemorate:

THE CENTENARY OF THE AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1911-14

Dr Mawson reading his first letter The Aurora steaming from the after his return. Photograph by Semaphore towards the Port River. Krischock, in The Adveriser Stage V: Part II Homeward Bound Photograph by Krischock, in The Adveriser (State Library of SA) (State Library of SA)

The third Antarctic voyage of the SY Aurora (1913-14). The return of and his fellow expeditioners from Cape Denison to South Australia.

Pt ADELAIDE 9.40 PM 26 FE 14 “no location” AAE rubber stamp Philatelic Items & Postal History of the AAE As there are still 45 of each of the two overprinted minisheets from Stage V: Part I Outward Bound available it was decided to include them here to give you the opportunity to complete your collection for the Third Antarctic Voyage of the SY Aurora. Overprinted Minisheet No.1 (54-100): Arrival 13 December 1913 - SY Aurora arrives at Cape Denison to retrieve Douglas Mawson & fellow expeditioners. While the Post Office at Cape Denison was open briefly from 19-21 December 2013, it was not open on the Centenary of the arrival (13th December 2013) or departure (24th December 2013) of S.Y. Aurora. Thus it was not possible to postmark covers at Cape Denison to commemorate these two events and it was decided to do so with overprinted minisheets. Minisheet No. 1

Overprinted Minisheet No.2 (154-200): Departure 24 December 1913 - SY Aurora departs Cape Denison with Douglas Mawson & fellow expeditioners. The 2013 AAT Centenary of the AAE minisheets were issued in Australia on 10 September 2013. Because the background of about half of the minisheet is very dark it was necessary to use a special gold ink, which was more expensive than the normal black on a light background. However the price will be the same as previous overprinted minisheets. Minisheet No. 2

Covers postmarked at Adelaide GPO on 26 FEB 2014 with the Commemorative Pictorial Postmark “Centenary AAE Return,” depicting an image of SY Aurora. The artwork for this postmark was created by Brisbane artist Peter S Anderson, who also provided the artwork for the Commemorative Postmark for the Official Opening of the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum on 2 December 2013 (Covers still available from PD Cranwell or when you visit the Museum in Hobart). Peter also gave permission for the Mawson’s Huts Foundation to use images of two of his oil paintings of the masts and radio shack on Macquarie Island, as they were in 1912 and as the remnants of the masts looked in 2011. They were printed on covers commemorating the Centenary of two-way radio communication between Macquarie Island and Cape Denison in Stage IV (AAT Stamps & Minisheets). These covers, signed by the artist, are still available from PD Cranwell. The central subject of the 2014 postmark is SY Aurora as she appeared in Cover No. 3. The developmental stages of the postmark are illustrated in the following series of pictures, starting with Peter’s initial sketch (No. 1), a coloured version (No. 2), with (No. 3) and without (No. 4) an outer circle, & finishing with the Australia Post postmark (No. 5). No. 1 No. 5

No.3 This is the version produced by the design team at Australia Post

based on the designs Nos 3 & 4 Initial sketch of postmark provided SY Aurora steaming towards provided by Peter Anderson. by the artist with a comment that Adelaide on her return from The postmark was manufactured the gap between circular text could Antarctica – setting her lower by Goldfields Graphics, Mildura, be reduced with slightly bigger topsail in a ‘southerly’ 3 miles off Vic.. printing. The Semaphore, Blue ensign flying http://www.goldfieldsgraphics.com.au/ from her mizzen peak, with the Quarantine flag on the starboard lower yard and Bower anchor at the Cathead if required. Peter S. Anderson – Artist No.4

Covers Nos 1 & 2 were affixed with the 2014 AAT Centenary of the AAE 1914 Homeward Bound se- tenant strips of three 60¢ stamps issued in Australia on 18th February 2014. This is part of the final issue in a four-year programme celebrating the centenary. From left to right the 60¢ stamps show: Mawson holding a large net; the Returning party; and a portrait photograph of Mawson. Cover No. 1: It is not clear from the photograph what Mawson is looking at. However we do know that the pilot, Captain Richardson, when he boarded the SY Aurora, brought Mawson a telegram from Sir Samuel Way, Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia, welcoming them home. Whether any mail was delivered to the ship at The Semaphore is not known. Cover No. 1

Cover No. 2: As far as is known only Mawson dis- embarked from the ship at The Semaphore. Mawson had earlier sent a wireless message to Captain Davis from Cape Denison asking him to bring the expeditioners’ good clothes with him on the voyage so that they may be properly attired when they arrived at Port Adelaide. This then accounts for Mawson’s and Cecil Madigan’s smart appearance. The quarantine officer had scarcely signed the bill of health before the leader had snatched up his bags and made for the customs launch, and set out for The Semaphore. The rest of the party remained on board the SY Aurora, which proceeded towards the mouth of the river, bound for a berth at Port Adelaide. Cover No. 2

Covers Nos 3 & 4 were affixed with the 2014 AAT Centenary of the AAE 1914 Homeward Bound se- tenant pair of $1.20 stamps issued in Australia on 18th February 2014. From left to right the $1.20 stamps show: with cinema camera; and Mawson sitting on a motor launch. Cover No. 3: I am reliably informed by Jamie Edwards, who is Events Officer of the Port Adelaide Sailing Club, that the distance from The Semaphore to the Port Adelaide Lighthouse, which is close to where the SA Company’s Basin used to be, is 12 nautical miles. The SY Aurora made this journey in just under 2 hours so would have averaged just over 6 knots. By 5.45 p.m. on Thursday 26 February the SY Aurora was made fast at the T-head in the South Australia Company's Basin. Cover No. 3

Cover No. 4: In The Advertiser, 27 February 1914 page 15, at the end of the article entitled: BACK FROM THE ANTARCTIC ICE, it is reported: "The Aurora went on her way to Port Adelaide, and Dr. Mawson came ashore in the Customs launch. He was welcomed by the Hon. John Lewis, M.L.C (president of the Geographical Society), Mr A W Piper (who was president at the time of Dr Mawson's departure), and Mr. H. P. Moore, (vice-president)." In the photo on the cover it has been possible to identify from left to right: Charles R Hodge (Registrar, ), Mr A W Piper, Dr Douglas Mawson and the Hon. John Lewis. At this stage the gentleman at the far right has yet to be identified. If anyone can identify him please let me know. Cover No. 4

Covers postmarked at Port Adelaide Post Office on 26 FEB 2014 with the Everyday Pictorial Postmark “Port Adelaide Lighthouse”. Postmarks: The first day of use of the two Port No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Adelaide Lighthouse Pictorial Postmarks (Everyday, No. 1, and First Day of Issue, No. 2), was 10 July 1986. On 25 February 2002 a new Everyday Postmark was issued (see No. 3, & Photo No. 12). It was essentially the same design as the original one except for a change to the date area. It is this postmark that was used on the covers presented here. The pictorial FDI postmark at Port Adelaide was Everyday postmark FDI postmark Later Everyday discontinued and the postmark destroyed. It was postmark replaced with a plain cds FDI postmark.

Port Adelaide Lighthouse: This much-travelled Lighthouse was prefabricated in England and shipped to South Australia in 1867. It was first erected at the entrance to the Port Adelaide River, where it replaced the lightship Fitzjames. The Lighthouse was fraught with difficulties from the beginning. Because the sea-bed was sand to a depth of 28 feet, the 40 ton central cylinder was extended to the sea- floor and partially filled with concrete to add stability. Due to harsh weather conditions, accommodation for the Head Lightkeeper, Thomas Fowles, was built upon raised decks. A white fixed light with a visibility of 16 miles was first exhibited on the 1st of January 1869 and displayed its light through a fixed, fourth order lens. Due to complaints, on the 3rd of February 1875, this was upgraded to a revolving first order lens, showing a bright flash every thirty seconds. To accommodate this the lantern platform had to be raised a further Photo No. 12: Port Adelaide Lighthouse cover with 28 feet. This was the beginning of the end as the Lighthouse showed Gus Nossal 45¢ stamp postmarked with redesigned Port Adelaide PO everyday pictorial postmark on 25th stability problems and was declared unsafe in 1899. A replacement Feb. 2002. Purchased on Ebay on 12 September 2014 was planned at Wonga Shoal, 2.8 km West of The Semaphore Jetty. from postcardsonline It incorporated the lantern and machinery from the old Port Adelaide Lighthouse and was first lit on 1st July 1901.

As there was an urgent need to establish a lighthouse at South Neptune Island on Spencer Gulf, the Port Adelaide Lighthouse tower was dismantled and transported to the Island on board the lighthouse vessel Governor Musgrave. It was re-erected on the Island and a new 2nd Order dioptic light from Chance Brothers was installed. On 1 November 1901 a white light flashed once more from the 50 foot skeletal red tower. The Lighthouse used a grandfather clock principle to rotate the mechanism, which floated in a bath of mercury. Vapourised kerosene was used as the illuminant until 1976 when electricity was installed. The light continued until 1985 when a new round brick tower, 8 metres tall including the lantern room, was built. After 80 years of continuous service the original South Neptune Island Tower was dismantled in 1985, it was put into storage at the lighthouse depot at Largs Bay. The people of Port Adelaide felt they had an affinity with the old lighthouse tower and that it should be returned to Port Adelaide. After a great deal of lobbying, the lighthouse was refurbished and re-assembled on its present Queen’s Wharf site on Black Diamond Square at the end of Commercial Road, by the South Australian Maritime Museum. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Lighthouse on 13 March 1986 as part of the celebrations for South Australia’s 150th Jubilee Year. The fate of the Wonga Shoal Lighthouse was not such a happy one for after 11 years service, on 17 November 1912, it was hit and destroyed by the sailing ship Dimsdale. Both lightkeepers, who were on duty at the time, were killed. Thus, when SY Aurora passed Cape Borda lighthouse at 8.45 pm Photo No. 13: The opening ceremony of South on Wednesday 25 February 1914, sailing in an ENE direction, the Neptune Island Lighthouse on Friday 1st November 1901. South Neptune Island lighthouse was 71 km away in a NNW Photographer unknown, image is part of the Searcy Collection, direction; and when she arrived off The Semaphore jetty the Wonga State Library of South Australia PRG 280/1/2/33 Shoal lighthouse no longer existed.

Port Adelaide Post Office: At the time the SY Aurora arrived in Port Adelaide in SA 1914, the Port Companyʼs Adelaide Post Office Basin Port Adelaide was located at 29 Lighthouse 1986 North Parade, and it Mildred St Port Adelaide was the first building North Parade PO from the intersection with Mildred Street (now Robe Street). The SY Aurora was berthed in the SA Company’s Basin, Commercial Road which was less than 1 km from the Post Map 5: Part of map of Port Adelaide Wharves and Water Frontages (circa 1911). Office. (See Map 4) Courtesy SA Maritime Museum

The Post Office at Port Adelaide was opened in 1864 and closed in early 1927. It was a solid stone two-storey building shown in Photo No. 14. It featured decorative ironwork in a curved archway over its front entrance. It was eventually demolished in 1954. The sketch of the Post Office on the next page was drawn by Jack Peake, who was a woodwork teacher in South Australia and was an accomplished watercolour and pen & ink artist. He illustrated his own FDCs, including many from stations in the AAT. He also provided sketches for the published works of local historians. His FDCs are much in demand. He died in 2006. For more go to: http://www.auspostalhistory.com/articles/478.php http://www.theage.com.au/money/investing/stamp-of-approval-20100810-11xfj.html Photo No. 14: Port Adelaide PO circa 1870

Sketch by A J (Jack) Peake included with the Official History – Port Adelaide Post Office. Prepared by Australia Post Public Relations in August 1984. 45¢ Orient Clipper ship stamp postmarked (cds) at Port Adelaide PO, 14 Nov. 1984. Purchased on Ebay on 12 September 2014 from trevor18148

Cover No. 5: This cover The Port Adelaide Post depicts a small part of an Office is now at Shop envelope (piece) that was 8, 200 Commercial posted by an unknown Road, Port Adelaide, member of the AAE at Port SA 5015. Adelaide Post Office exactly 100 years before Cover No. 5 was serviced at the same Post Office (but at a different address) for the Mawson’s Huts Foundation. Also on the cover are cachets from the AAE (on the piece) and the Cachet on reverse of all covers Mawson’ Huts Foundation Cover No. 5 Surviving post from the AAE is scarce to rare, and when items come up for sale at auction they are extremely expensive. For example, an addressed cover with a Posted at Macquarie Island cachet (No. 1 on next page) and a 1d Tasmanian stamp cancelled at Hobart on 21 DE 11, sold at a recent Melbourne auction for A$2600.00 + 19.25% commission. In a series of three articles dealing with the Centenary of the AAE, which were published in 2012 and 2013, in Polar Post (Journal of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain), John Youle has provided an update and illustrations of postal items that are known to exist. However, he would be the first to admit that his findings are not complete. If any of you have information about, and images of, covers, postcards, letters and any other postal items from the expedition that you are willing to share please let me know and I will pass on the information to John. Images of any items provided, if used in later publications, will be fully acknowledged. The story of Mawson’s attempts in 1911 to persuade the Australian Postmaster General (Hon. J Thomas) to provide a special postage stamp for use by the AAE was published on pages 47- 48 of the June 1959 issue of the Philatelic Bulletin No. 36 (precursor to the Stamp Bulletin). Despite providing the PMG with a detailed drawing of a special postage stamp, the request was refused for bureaucratic reasons. To add insult to injury the drawing was not returned to Mawson and its fate is unknown. No trace of it has been found in the scanty records now extant! A later attempt to have the Expedition supplied with 1d Australian stamps overprinted with “Antarctica”, similar to those provided to the Shackleton (Nimrod) and the Scott (Terra Nova) Expeditions by the NZ Government, was also denied.

In a letter written much later Dr Mawson stated No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 “……..the Commonwealth did give us permission to have made suitable rubber stamps for cancelling Australian stamps to be used on envelopes posted back on our ship to Australia, actually for cancellation of stamps on ship’s letters”. The rubber stamps were manufactured by The Mercury Newspaper in Hobart. The form of the impressions of the two (three?) rubber stamps, which were made and utilised by the AAE are shown in the illustrations Nos 1-3. Macquarie Island Antarctica “no location” Youle (2012 a,b & 2013) reports that mail from Macquarie Island and Antarctica exists with impressions of rubber stamps Nos 1 & 2 used as a postmarker and a cachet, while mail in which the No. 3 “no location” rubber stamp was used, it was only as a cachet. In Youle (2012 a) it is stated that according to David John, sources in Australia have identified around 16 items bearing the “no location” rubber stamp. However, the Post Offices where the items were posted are known for only 6 items: 2 letters and 2 pieces (which includes the one in Cover No. 5) were postmarked at Port Adelaide Post Office on 26 FE 14; and 2 letters were postmarked in Sydney on MR 28 NOON 14. Further information about the other 10 items would be most welcome. All six “no location” items have cancellation dates on or after the date SY Aurora returned from the final voyage in 1914, and John Youle (Youle 2012 a) suggests, but has no proof, that the “no location” rubber stamp was produced by removing the location from one or both of rubber stamps Nos 1 & 2.

Cover with Cover with “no location” “no location” cachet posted cachet posted at Port Adelaide at Sydney Post Post Office at Office on 9.40PM 26FE14 MR28NOON 14 Source: This item is Source: This item is from a Stanley from the collection of, Gibbons Auction and with permission Catalogue Oct. 1993 from David John

Cover No. 6: The following was published in a report on page 6 of The Daily Herald on Saturday 28th February 1914. The task of unloading the Aurora’s cargo was entered upon early in the afternoon of Friday 27th February. It consisted chiefly of sledges, skis, personal effects, and numerous cases of specimens belonging to the members of the party. The 11 Greenland dogs, which were brought back, will be distributed among the members of the exploring party as a memento of their voyage to the Antarctic regions. During the morning several of the animals were taken ashore, and were placed in quarantine for six weeks at the Adelaide Zoological Gardens. They are located in cages near the bears. They will be claimed by their respective owners at the end of the period of quarantine. Cover No. 6

Cover No. 7: On Monday 2 March 1914 it was reported on page 7 in The Register that: Although not formally open for inspection, SY Aurora had many visitors yesterday. Capt Davis states that the public may look over her on Wednesday & Thursday. In all probability the SY Aurora will be taken to Hobart at the end of this week, where her crew will be paid off and she will be laid up. The SY Aurora goes to the cool waters of Hobart, where she will be free from attack by the teredor worms (marine bivalve molluscs in the family Teredinidae). She is an unsheathed (not coppered) wooden vessel, and in the warm waters of Australian harbors the destructive worms would revel in her. The ship was coaled on Friday and sailed for Hobart at 10.00 am on Monday 9 March, where she arrived 7 days later. Cover No. 7

Cover No. 8: The following appeared on page 7 of The Register on Friday 27 February 1914: THE AURORA'S PARTY. Those who came back in the Aurora besides Dr Mawson are Dr A McLean & Messrs C T Madigan, E F R Bage, F H Bickerton, A J Hodgeman & S Jeffryes (not in photo). These had been left behind at Adelie Land when the Aurora went to relieve the expedition at the end of 1912. In addition she had on board Messrs F Hurley, J G Hunter and P E Correll, who made a second trip to Antarctica, and Messrs G F Ainsworth (meteorologist), H Hamilton (biologist), L R Blake (geologist), and C A SandelI (wireless operator), from Macquarie lsland. The latter 4 were picked up by the Aurora on her way from Hobart to Dr Mawson's base. Cover No. 8

Overprinted Minisheet No. 3 (1-100): The picture at the left of the minisheet shows a penguin visitor to the motor launch at the ice front, Boat Harbour, Cape Denison. From left to right are: Madigan, Gillies behind Hodgeman, & Mawson. The 60¢ stamp in the middle shows a large circular net with Mawson at left then Hodgeman and Hamilton. (Photographs by Frank Hurley (State Library of NSW). The picture of Madigan and Mawson at the far right was taken by (Harry) Krischock and was published in The Advertiser on 27 Feb. 1914 (see Cover No. 2) Overprinted Minisheet No. 3 References: Ayers, Philip (1999) Mawson – A Life. Published by The Miegunyah Press: Melbourne. Crossley, Louise (1997) Trial by Ice – The Antarctic Journals of . Published by Bluntisham Books: UK. Davis, John King (1962) High Latitude. Published by Melbourne University Press: Australia. Davis, John King (2007) With the ‘Aurora’ in the Antarctic 1911-1914. Originally published by Andrew Melrose Ltd in 1919; re-published by The Erskine Press: UK. Jacka, Fred & Jacka, Eleanor, Editors (1988) Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries. Published by Allen & Unwin: Sydney. Mawson, Douglas (1915) The Home of the Blizzard – being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914, Volume II, Chapter XXVIII and Map. Published by William Heinemann: London. Mawson, Douglas (1930) The Home of the Blizzard – being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914, Abridged Popular Edition, Chapter XXVII and Folding Maps. Published by Hodder & Stoughton: London. Mawson, Douglas (1996) The Home of the Blizzard – being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914, Paperback, facsimile, edition, Chapter 27 and Maps. Published by Wakefield Press: Kent Town, South Australia Quilty, Patrick G & Goddard, Peter H (2004) The lower deck on Aurora: H.V.Goddard’s diary, 1913-14. Polar Record 40 pp 193-203. Riffenburgh, Beau (2011) AURORA - Douglas Mawson and The Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-14. Published by The Erskine Press: UK. Youle, John (2012) Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Part 1 - Departure from Hobart, and Establishment of the three Bases. Polar Post No. 232, pp 18-20 (Journal of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain). Youle, John (2013a) Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Part 2 – The Antarctic Bses. Polar Post No. 238, pp 72-75 (Journal of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain). Youle, John (2013b) Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Part 3 – Macquarie Island – December 1911 to 1913. Polar Post No. 239, pp 90-75 (Journal of the Polar Postal History Society of Great Britain). Information from the following Adelaide Newspapers: The Advertiser, The Daily Herald and The Register was obtained using the National Library of Australia’s Trove system http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

26 FEB 2014

Acknowledgements: The Mawson’s Hut Foundation owes a great debt of gratitude to Brisbane artist, Peter S Anderson, for the time and effort he put into creating the magnificent commemorative postmark “Centenary AAE Return” with a fine image of the SY Aurora. The patient and persistent efforts, as well as helpful advice, of Allison Semmler, formerly Merchandiser RNP SA/NT, now Network Support SA at Australia Post, Adelaide, in ensuring that the correct postmark was ready for the big day, 26 FEB 2014, were very much appreciated. To commemorate events that took place at The Semaphore and Port Adelaide, we were able to have covers serviced at the GPO Adelaide (commemorative postmark) and Port Adelaide Post Office (pictorial postmark). A big thank you is due to the Australia Post personnel who did such an excellent job. Now to the document itself. As author I would not have been able to complete this promotional document, which contains aspects of both Antarctic and polar postal history, without the help of a large number of people from Port Adelaide and Adelaide as well other places in Australia and overseas. If I have missed anyone who contributed information, please accept my humble apologies. The following list is in alphabetical order: Adelaide Stampex 2014: Martin Walker for providing assistance, an image and valuable information. Australia Post Adelaide: Dianne McInnes, Merchandise Manager WA & SA/NT, for valuable information. City of Port Adelaide Enfield: Georgie Cassar, Geographic Information Services Officer, for valuable information. Government of South Australia: Simon Carter, State Heritage Unit, DEWNR, who provided sources of valuable information. John Youle, Editor of Polar Post for providing images and valuable information. Kingston Post Shop: John Reece & Staff for providing AAT stamps and minisheets. Newscorp Australia: Paul Jackson, Sales Manager Newsource – Newspix, for two very fine images. New Society for Diffusion of Knowledge: Matt Probert for providing a very useful map. Port Adelaide Library: Meredith Blundell, Library Technician - Local History, for images, a map, documents and valuable information. Port Adelaide Sailing Club: Jamie Edwards, Events Officer, for providing valuable information. Port Adelaide Visitors Information Centre: Richard, for providing valuable information. Postcards Online: Claire Thomas for providing assistance and some interesting items about Port Adelaide. Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, Library: For providing valuable information. South Australian Maritime Museum: Lindl Lawton, Senior Curator, for a map, an image and valuable information. South Australian Museum: Mark Pharoah, for providing an image and valuable information. State Library of South Australia: Chris Read, Lew Chapman and staff, for much needed help, valuable information and great images. State Library of Victoria: Judy Scurfield, Map Librarian, for guidance re the collection and valuable information. Trevor Winslett (trevor18148): For providing the Jack Peake sketch of Port Adelaide Post Office. University of Adelaide Archives: Sue Coppin and Andrew Cook, for providing an image and a very valuable source of information. Veteran Car Club of Australia (Vic.): Members David Smallacombe & Keith Neilson for identifying the make & model of the car in Photo No. 10.