Unraveling an Antarctic Mystery in Burra
This month the historic town of Burra will welcome Sue Hilliard, a Melbourne researcher with a family connection to Australia’s Antarctic exploration. Sue will share her remarkable story of solving an 85-year-old mystery tied to one of South Australia’s greatest adventurers, Sir Hubert Wilkins.
Wilkins, a pioneering polar explorer and aviator, was born near Mt Bryan, just north of Burra. The local community, passionate about preserving his legacy, has maintained his childhood home, ensuring his extraordinary contributions are not forgotten. Now, Sue Hilliard is set to add a thrilling new chapter to his story.
During COVID lockdowns, Sue, the daughter of an Australian officer once in charge at Davis Station in Antarctica, began sifting through her late father’s paperwork. What she found ignited a relentless pursuit—two of Sir Hubert Wilkins’ 1939 Antarctic landing sites had never been rediscovered. Armed with modern technology and a global network of researchers, Sue became an “armchair sleuth,” pinpointing the exact locations where Wilkins once stood, read declarations, and flew the Australian flag to reaffirm the nation’s claim to the area.
Wilkins buried cairns at each location, containing a copy of his declaration and an Australian flag. Recovering the cache and verifying the sites is the next part of this modern day treasure hunt, and would be a dream come true for Sue. She believes she knows exactly where they were burried, but is not ruling out some foul play by the locals – a dense population of curious penguins with a fascination for shiny objects!
Before embarking on the next challenge, Sue will return to where Wilkins’ story began. In Burra this weekend, she will recount her fascinating journey, the process of rediscovery, and the significance of Wilkins’ Antarctic explorations. For history enthusiasts, adventurers, and Mid North locals,”The Mysteries Solved” promises to be a fascinating event.
Tickets can be purchased here.
