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Australian Antarctic Territory
 

[Australian flag]
                        Adopted 13 Jun 1933
 
Map of Australian
Antarctic Territory
Map of Heard and
MacDonald Islands
Hear National Anthem
  "Advance Australia Fair" 
Constitution
(1 Jan 1901)
Chief Stations: Maswson,
Davis, Casey
Currency: Australian Dollar
(AUD)
National Holiday: 26 Jan (1788)
Australia Day
Population: Uninhabited
Seasonal Research Staff
Summer (Jan): 200
Winter (Jul): 62
 (2008-2009)
Total Armed Forces: N/A
Defense is the responsibility of Australia
Merchant marine: None
Number of Year-round
Stations: 3
Summer-only Stations: None
 (2009)
GDP: N/A 
International Organizations/Treaties: None
Australian
Antarctic
Territory
Index
Chronology

11 Jul 1810            Macquarie Island claimed for Britain by Frederick
                         Hasselborough and annexed to New South Wales.
24 Feb 1831            Enderby Land discovered by John Biscoe in the whaling
                         brig Tula.
27 Nov 1833            McDonald Island and Heard Islands sighted by British
                         sealer Peter Kemp on brig Magnet.
19 Jan 1840            Wilkes Land is discovered by U.S. Lt. Charles Wilkes.
 9 Jan 1841            Victoria Land claimed for Britain by Capt. James Clark
                         Ross.
25 Nov 1853            Heard Island sighted by U.S. Capt. John Heard.
 4 Jan 1854            McDonald Islands sighted by Capt. William McDonald.
17 Jun 1890            Macquarie Island transferred to Tasmania.
1908                   Heard Island and McDonald Islands annexed by Britain.
13 Jan 1930            Enderby Land is claimed by Britain.
17 May 1933            Macquarie Island declared a wildlife sanctuary.
13 Jun 1933            British imperial order annexes Antarctica south of 60°
                         and between longitudes 160° E and 45° E (excluding
                         French Terre Adelie) and transfers it to Australia.
24 Aug 1936            Transfer of sovereignty implemented by the Australian
                         Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933.
 1 Apr 1938            Boundaries with French Terre Adelie are fixed 
                         definitively between longitudes 136°E and 142°E.
28 May 1947            Australian Antarctic Planning Committee formed which
                         operates the Australian National Antarctic Research
                         Expeditions.
26 Dec 1947            Heard Island and McDonald Islands are transferred
                         to Australia by U.K.; Macquarie Island is transferred
                         to the Commonwealth of Australia and administered
                         by Australian Antarctic Territory.
18 May 1948            Australian Antarctic Division created to administer
                         Australian Antarctic Territory, McDonald Island
                         and Heard Islands.
13 Feb 1954            Mawson Station, first permanent Australian station
                         in Antarctica, opens.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Directors of the Australian Antarctic Division
(part of the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage)
1947 - 1949                Stuart Campbell 
                             (Officer-in-Charge and Chief Executive Officer)
Jan 1949 - 1966            Phillip G. Law                     (b. 1912 - d. 2010)
1966 - 1970                Don F. Styles (1st time)(acting)   (b. 1916 - d. 1995)
 2 Oct 1970 - 1 Aug 1971   Bryan Rofe                         (b. 1918 - d. 1971)
1971 - 1972                Don F. Styles (2nd time)(acting)   (s.a.)
 8 May 1972 - 1979         Raymond "Ray" I. Garrod            (b. 1917 - d. 2009)
 9 Apr 1979 - 1984         Clarence "Clarrie" G. McCue        (b. 1927 - d. 1992) 
1984 - 1988                James "Jim" E. Bleasel             (b. 1936?)
1988 - 23 Nov 1998         Rex Moncur
23 Nov 1998 - 2009         Tony J. Press
Feb 2009 - Aug 2011        Lyn Maddock (f)                    (b. 1950)
Aug 2011 -                 Tony Fleming
 

Territorial Disputes: Ausralian Antarctic claim is recognized by France, New Zealand, Norway and U.K., but it is not recognized by the United Nations, U.S., Russia or by most other countries. Administered by Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 





© Ben Cahoon