In their own words

Dr. Mawson’s plans, as laid before the Royal Geographical Society in 1911, provided for an extensive oceanographical campaign in the immense stretch of ocean to the southward of Australia. Very little was known of the sea-floor in this area, there being but a few odd soundings only, beyond a moderate distance from the Australian coast. Even the great Challenger expedition had scarcely touched upon it; and so our Expedition had a splendid field for investigation.

— JK Davis, in Home of the Blizzard

… Davis and his men … by their oceanographic investigations … have carried out a piece of research which in scientific value is comparable with that accomplished ashore.

— Douglas Mawson, 1914