Frank Hurley: Sydney Photographer             JFH
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Frank Hurley

James Francis Hurley

1885 - 1962

In 1911 Frank Hurley was a Sydney commercial photographer, known amongst the profession and the amateur societies for his enthusiastic and energetic approach to making the “Perfect Picture”. During the year he had re-established a studio following several years of work in photography and publishing which had seen a huge production of photographic postcards as well as involvement in publishing materials for stationery and other goods involving photography.

Later in 1911 his career was about to undergo a major change of direction when he took the opportunity of a life-time and one which would deliver the move onto the world stage. The coming events were signalled to the world when the editor of Australasian Photo-Review reported that:

J. F. Hurley Joins the Mawson Antarctic Expedition as Official Photographer

"Mr. J. F. Hurley, so well-known to Sydney photographers, and for some time past associated with Sydney depot of Kodak Ltd., has been selected to accompany the Mawson Expedition as official photographer. Both parties have reason to be satisfied with this arrangement, in as much as Mr. Mawson secures the services of a thoroughly capable and efficient photographer upon whom he may rely at all times, and Mr. Hurley is given an opportunity such as comes to few men.

He is now in his twenty-sixth year, and took to the study of the photographic art some twelve years ago. At that time the camera was but a hobby which was enthusiastically indulged in. The outcome was the adoption of photography as a profession five years ago. Mr. Hurley’s work has been generally admired, not only for its technical excellence, but also for its originality of conception and departure from the conventional.

He has given considerable time to research work and the application of photography to scientific purposes, and is a keen enthusiast in cinematography.  Endowed with such qualifications, Mr. Hurley should certainly prove of great assistance to Mr. Mawson in his Expedition. We feel sure that we voice the sentiments of the photographic fraternity in wishing Mr. Hurley “Bon voyage and good luck.”