Douglas Mawson's First Major Geological Expedition: The New Hebrides, 1903

Douglas Mawson, the famous Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer, is best known for his Antarctic expeditionary work, first with Shackleton in 1907-09, and later in 1911-14 and 1929-31 on expeditions that he led himself. However, his first expedition outside of Australia was to the New Hebrides (modern Vanuatu) in 1903 at the age of 20 and before he had completed his geology degree. Mawson's field notes, and subsequent publications, are most impressive given that they were produced by a very young inexperienced geologist, working independently in an isolated area. His field notes and photographs have until now received very little attention, despite being a unique body of information full of insights into the author.