Mawson's Huts Foundation
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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 Douglas Mawson 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. No.4 Peter S. Anderson – Artist 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: Frank Hurley 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, University of Adelaide), 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.