Antarctica: early discoveries and significant events – timeline
It’s just over 200 years since people first stepped foot onto Antarctica. Explore this timeline to see some key dates in the early discoveries of this icy continent. From 1959, the timeline notes events that have helped to shape Antarctica as a region for peaceful purposes and scientific research.
Until 1780 – Terra Australis
The early period consisted mainly of explorations and voyages penetrating to far southern regions. A consequence of this is the reduction of the hypothetical 'Terra Australis'. Charts of the Antarctic progressively showed less land as speculations were steadily disproved.
Terra Australis Incognita
In this 1657 map by Jan Janssonius, the available territory for a southern continent is reduced. Terra Australis Incognita ("unknown southern land") is printed across a region that includes the south pole but there are no definite shorelines.
1772 – Captain Cook’s southern voyages
Captain Cook’s order was to find the ‘southern land’, study rocks, plants and animals and make friends with native people. He never found Antarctica.
1820 – Edward Bransfield’s icy glimpse
On the 30 January 1820 Bransfield sighted Trinity Peninsula, the northernmost point of the Antarctic mainland.
1821 – First landings
Sealers were the first to land and overwinter in Antarctica sometimes involuntarily, as the result of shipwrecks e.g. in 1821 and 1877. During this period there were approximately 1,175 sealing voyages but only 25 scientific expeditions recorded.
1831 – The magnetic North Pole
James Clark Ross located the North Magnetic pole in 1831 and came close to also finding the South Magnetic pole on his epic expedition of 1839-1843.
1837 – A Frenchman in Antarctica
Dumont d’Urville chartered part of the Antarctic peninsula in the ships Astrolabe and Zelée. He returned in 1840 to the opposite side of the continent where he named Terre Adélie (Adelie Land).
1839 – James Clark Ross' southern expedition (1839-1842)
Ross conducted geomagnetic surveys in Erebus and Terror. Penetrating the pack ice in sailing ships they found polynia (open water) of the Ross Sea, and determined the southern Magnetic Pole could not be attained by sea.
HMS Erebus and Terror in the Antarctic
This painting is by John Wilson Carmichael.
1882 – First International Polar Year (1882-83)
A joint effort of 12 countries to operate 14 stations surrounding the North Pole. Forty observatories across the world studied meteorology, geomagnetism, auroral phenomena, ocean currents and tides, structure and motion of ice and atmospheric electricity.
1892 – Icebergs ahoy
Icebergs were exceptionally frequent during several years, with major occurrences in 1892-94, 1903-04 and 1907-09 when almost every ship sailing between Europe and Australasia reported encounters with vast fields of ice.
1893 – The heroic age
The period between 1893-1918 includes many Antarctic explorations, together with the beginnings of the modern whaling industry. During this period, interest in Antarctica was strong, and in 1895, the Antarctic resolution was adopted by the 5th International Geographical Congress.
1898 – Bernacchi's Southern Cross expedition
The Australian physicist, trained in astronomy and terrestrial magnetism, endured the first winter on the Antarctic continent and collected a complete set of magnetic data over an annual cycle from observations at Cape Adare.
1902 – Balloons over Antarctica
Twice in 1902 aircraft (balloons) were used for aerial reconnaissance.
1903 – The first meteorological station
The region's first permanent meteorological station was established on the South Orkney Islands.
1907 – The famous Ernest Shackleton
Shackleton and his men were the first to bring motorised land vehicles to the Antarctic. With their base at Cape Royds in McMurdo Sound, they made the first ascent of Mount Erebus, discovered the Beardmore Glacier, reached a new farthest south of 88° 23' on the polar ice cap and were the first to approach the south magnetic pole located high in the Victoria Land interior.
Nimrod Expedition members
Left to right: Frank Wild, Ernest Shackleton, Eric Marshall and Jameson Adams, members of the Nimrod expedition to the South Pole.
1911 – Reaching the South Pole
The South Pole was reached twice (by Amundsen and Scott) in the 1911-12 summer (33 days separated these events).
1944 – Permanent stations in Antarctica
From the Second World War, regular annual expeditions from an increasing number of countries were the principal activity, and permanent occupation of Antarctica began in 1944 at Port Lockroy (Wiencke Island) and Hope Bay (Antarctic Peninsula).
1957 – International Geophysical Year
This event was a huge development of science throughout the world. It included a co-operative concentrated research programme by the countries with existing stations in Antarctic regions and by others that established observatories for the purpose. Many of these subsequently remained open.
1957 – Scott Base is established
New Zealand establishes Scott Base to support the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition and the International Geophysical Year. It is designed to be a temporary station.
Sir Edmund Hillary and Hillary’s Hut
Sir Ed Hillary stands outside of the TAE Hut in 2004. This small building held Sir Ed’s office during the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
Built in 1957, the building affectionally known as Hillary’s Hut, was restored during 2016–2017 to mark the 60th anniversary of Scott Base.
1958 – Sir Edmund Hillary on ice
Edmund Hillary reached the South Pole on 4 January 1958 and landed later in 1985, together with Neil Armstrong, in a small plane at the North Pole. He became the first man to stand at both poles as well as the summit of Everest.
1959 – The Antarctic Treaty
One of the consequences of the International Geophysical Year was a general appreciation of the efficiency of international scientific cooperation in Antarctica. This promoted discussions that culminated in negotiation of the Antarctic Treaty by the 12 states then active in the Antarctic. It came into force in 1961 and has subsequently been a major influence on Antarctic affairs.
Antarctic Treaty flag
This became the offfical flag of the Antarctic Treaty System in 2002.
1964 – Specially protected areas
An area of Antarctica may be designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) to protect outstanding environmental, scientific, historic, aesthetic or wilderness values, any combination of those values, or ongoing or planned scientific research. Tramway Ridge on Mt Erebus is an example of an ASPA.
1982 – Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) established
CCAMLR's objective is to conserve Antarctic marine life. This was in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources, a keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem and a history of over-exploitation of several other marine resources in the Southern Ocean.
1983 – Pax Antarctica
From 1983, the United Nations organisation began to consider the Antarctica being the continent for science. Pax Antarctica continues to prevail over the Treaty region.
1988 – New codes of practice
In acknowledgement of the sensitivity of the Antarctic biota, various national laws have been enacted that bind virtually all human activity in the far south that affects the fragility of the Antarctic Treaty system (expulsion of sledge dogs is one example).
1991 – Tourism increase
In 1997 the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) was established to to advocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic.
1994 – Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act
New Zealand enacts legislation in 1994 to implement The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1998).
2007–2008 – International Polar Year (IPY)
This was a global scientific programme designed to better understand the land and sea environments of the Arctic and Antarctic and the effects climate change has on them. It was run over two years and included an 8-week voyage to the Ross Sea.
IPY and CAML
The International Polar Year (IPY) was a global scientific programme designed to better understand the land and sea environments of the Arctic and Antarctic and the effects of climate changes on them. The Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) was one of many international research programmes under the IPY umbrella.
2021 – Scott Base redevelopment
The New Zealand Government confirms that Scott Base’s aging infrastructure will be replaced with three interconnected buildings. The rebuild is paused in 2023.
2023 – Declaration on Climate Change and the Antarctic
The 45th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting reaffirms its “firm commitment to combat the adverse impacts of climate change in Antarctica” – including giving strong support to the 5th International Polar Year (IPY) 2032–33.
2025 – Scott Base redevelopment to continue
Antarctica New Zealand announces a proposed a three-stage redevelopment of Scott Base over the next 20–50 years, starting with the oldest and most dilapidated facilities. Stage 1 is due for completion by 2030.
Related content
Find out more about this special continent with our wide range of resources on Antarctica, start with this introductory article. Browse the content under our Antarctica topic.
Useful links
Visit Te Ara to read about the history of Antarctica and New Zealand.
Visit Antarctic Heritage Trust to find out more about the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958.
