As Official Photographer

On 20 October 1911 Mawson wrote to Hurley officially offering him a position on the Expedition team with the following conditions.

'You will have to conform to the regulations of the Expedition before leaving Hobart. This includes the fact that all photographs taken during the currency of the Expedition shall be copyright of the Expedition but shall always be published with the name of the photographer subscribed. It will be necessary for us to make use of these photographs at the expiration of the expedition in order to raise the necessary funds to meet liabilities."

As part of the agreement Hurley's travel expenses to Hobart would be covered by the Expedition and all equipment supplied. On his return in April 1913 Hurley was promised ₤300.

Packing & apportioning stores; Queen's Wharf, Hobart, 1911, by Frank Hurley
Photo ON144/H123

Many weeks were spent preparing the equipment for the expedition. The photographic supplies included 48 dozen glass-plate negatives of assorted sizes with sensitised papers, 17,000 feet of film, a stereocamera and numerous standard cameras.

Hurley washing cinematograph film after development in the Antarctic on board the "Aurora", 1911 - 1914, by unknown photographer
Photo ON 144/H586