In an extraordinary life, South Australian Sir Hubert Wilkins was a polar explorer, pioneer aviator, submariner, scientist, author, photographer, environmentalist, meteorologist, adventurer, spiritualist, and advocate for indigenous people.

The Wilkins Project has been established by the History Trust of South Australia to bring together leading experts to research Sir Hubert Wilkins, help preserve his legacy and provide resources so that everyone can learn about the life of this unique and enigmatic visionary.

George Hubert Wilkins was born in South Australia in 1888 and, from the age of twenty, constantly wandered the world, never living in one place for more than a few weeks. In an amazing career, Wilkins was the first person to fly in Antarctica, the first to fly a plane across the Arctic Ocean, the first to travel under the Arctic ice in a submarine, and the official Australian photographer at the Western Front during World War I.

He also flew in the England-Australia Air Race in 1919, went on the final expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton, travelled around the world in the Graf Zeppelin, and worked as a spy during World War II.

Wilkins believed that civilization was still evolving and, through science and knowledge, humanity could create a fairer, more just society, where wars would become unnecessary and famine could be eradicated.

To understand human thinking, he lived with First Nations people in Australia and the Inuit in the Arctic, claiming that in many ways they were more civilized and had much to teach Western Society. Raised a Christian, Wilkins became a committed spiritualist.

He sought to understand the nature of God and how all people could, through the spiritual world, unlock the full potential of their minds. He believed life existed throughout the universe and humanity was merely one manifestation of a higher cosmic power.

He was also a gifted writer, artist and musician.

Throughout his life of constant travel, Sir Hubert Wilkins wrote thousands of letters, gave lectures, took photographs, kept journals and collected a record of his incredible life. This record often included objects and artefacts commemorating his adventures.

When he died in America in 1958, Wilkins left behind a legacy of tens of thousands of documents, thousands of photographs and hundreds of historical objects. This material was dispersed after his death.

The Wilkins Project is promoting the life of Sir Hubert Wilkins by supporting research, helping discover and preserve his records, as well as make his incredible legacy accessible to the public.