Dovers, Robert

DESCRIPTION

NameDovers, RobertOccupationAntarctic Explorer, Surveyor.Place of ResidenceShellharbour VillageBiographyGeorge Harris Serjeant Dovers was born 1887 at Bombala, to William Anthony and Harriet Elizabeth Dovers (nee Curry).

George married Ursula Dorothy Dabbs at Sydney in 1916, and they had;

William John Dovers b.1918 (married Marjorie Ray Thorpe, died 2007, Canberra)
Robert George Graham b.1922 (married Wilma Margaret Graham, died 1981, Shellharbour)
Judith b.1925 (married John Charles Thorpe)

George Dovers was a surveyor and a member and one of the last survivors of Sir Douglas Mawson’s historic Antarctic expedition in 1911-1914. George Dovers was awarded the Polar Medal by H.M. King George V. Following WW1, George worked as a surveyor in Wollongong.

He died in 1971 aged 84 years.

George’s son Robert grew up in Wollongong, and after WWII he joined the Australian National Antarctic research expedition in 1947 as a surveyor on Heard Island and Macquarie Island.

In 1951, Robert returned to Antarctica as the Australian member of a French expedition. He was a surveyor/cartographer and ‘husky’ trainer. It was this expedition which inspired him to write in 1957, the book “Huskies”, based on his experiences of the French expedition.

Following the expedition, Robert was appointed Officer in Charge and Surveyor of the first Australian Party to winter on the Antarctic continent. He set up Mawson Base which is still in operation to-day. He was responsible for discovering the Prince Charles Mountain Range and surveyed and mapped a section of coastline equivalent in length from Wollongong to Brisbane.

In recognition of his work, he was made an officer of the Academy of Science by the French government, was made a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, and awarded the Mrs. Patrick Ness Award for geographical exploration and investigation.

Robert Dovers greatest honour was the award of the Polar Medal and clasp by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11. George and Robert Dovers, were the only father and son team to be awarded the Polar Medal. While he was in the Antarctic, Robert was in regular contact with the Australian Antarctic division based back at home in Australia.

A member of this vital team was his wife Wilma, who was responsible for coding and decoding messages to and from Antarctic. Sir Douglas Mawson wrote “ Robert Dovers is a type born to face and endure the trials and hazards of polar exploration…Robert is true to type and though professionally a cartographer he proved himself a master of sledge travel.”

After his work in the Antarctic, Robert Dovers took over his father’s survey practice Dovers and Associates, and settled in Shellharbour.

Memorabilia and history of George and Robert Dovers was supplied by Mrs. Wilma Dovers, who opened the Tongarra Museum exhibition “Antarctic” in 1993.

External LinkWollongong Man on Arctic Mission Leaves Today 1951Wollongong Man to Lead Antarctic Expedition 1953Mr Dovers Leaves Mawson Base Post 1954Wollongong Man to Spend Year in Antarctica 1951Shellharbour City Council Hall of FameEncyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

Map or Plan

Lake Illawarra Township Estate

Subdivision Lot 99 DP 241620

Subdivision Dinah Hambly Estate

Lake Illawarra Township Estate

Lake Illawarra Township Estate Brochure

Place

Tymariel

Lake Illawarra Township Estate

Photograph

The former residence of Robert Dovers in Shellharbour

Object

Antarctica Exhibition Folder

Family

Dovers

The former residence of Robert Dovers, Wollongong Street, Shellharboour.

The home was built by Dovers c.1930 and named Tymariel.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPeopleEventShellharbour Hall of FameFamilyDoversLocalityShellharbour VillagePlaceTymarielLake Illawarra Township Estate

Menu

Dovers, Robert