Australia in Antarctica: realising an ambition

Abstract

From the mid-1880s, during the movement for Federation, colonial Australians identified Antarctica as a strategic part of Australia’s sphere of concern. Extending Australian control over the region due south of Australia appealed to the colonies and became a national ambition. Nascent Australian nationalism, the protection of Australia’s southern approaches and a determination to be part of the global quest to unlock Antarctic science underpinned the Australian quest for Antarctic territory, and fostered a national community of interest between government, science and the press. Australia’s determination to be the controlling authority over what Douglas Mawson called the Australian quadrant strained the Anglo-Australian relationship during the inter-war years, and paved the way for Australia’s entry into the field of international diplomacy. The literature relating to Australia’s interests and policies with respect to its northern borders is substantial, but little is known about Australia’s thinking with respect to its southern approaches. This paper seeks to address that imbalance by exploring the political and diplomatic dimensions that led to Australia becoming the largest Antarctic claimant state.