Modern Antarctic Adventures In 1945, the Australian Federation
was forty-four years old. Like many other nations, Australia was
looking to the future after the turmoil of the Second World War.
Several countries saw Antarctica as a potential source of
territory, fishing and mineral resources. Antarctic explorer and
scientist Sir Douglas Mawson approached the Australian
Government and lobbied for renewed exploration and scientific
effort in Antarctica. Swayed by Mawson's arguments and
influenced by the increasing United States interests in
Antarctica, the government agreed, and a series of departmental
committees was established. These quickly became
institutionalised in 1947 as the Australian National Research
Expedition or ANARE (Expedition later became Expeditions). After
a series of reconnaissance flights, Australians established a
base at Heard Island in 1947 and at Macquarie Island in 1948.
While these stations were established, Australians began a
review of the Antarctic coast directly south of Australia