Dovers

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NameDoversDescriptionGeorge 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.

Robert Dovers (George's son) 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 LinkMr Dovers Leaves Mawson Base PostAntarctic Explorer in WollongongWollongong Man on Antarctic Mission Leaves TodayWollongong Man to Spend Year in Antarctica

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Place

The former residence of Robert Dovers, Tymariel, in Shellharbour, c.1991

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CollectionFamiliesLocalityShellharbour VillagePersonDovers, RobertPlaceTymarielRelated ItemThe former residence of Robert Dovers in Shellharbour

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Dovers