Macquarie Island image gallery

Once established on Macquarie the expeditioners moved around the island, assessing the wildlife, botany, geology and undertaking work on cosmic ray physics. The men found a beautiful island, a rich breeding ground for elephant seals and seabirds such as penguins and albatross. Extraordinary plants such as the ‘Macquarie Island cabbage’, (stilbocarpa polaris) which was also a source of nutrition during the sealing days, grew freely on the slopes of the island.

The presence of the expedition was a reminder to other nations that Australia was in possession of this small southern ocean wilderness. Operating a small post office was a part of the administrative support for this act of possession.