Mawson Huts Replica Museum

Mawson Huts Replica Museum offers a window into Australia’s early Antarctic exploration. The museum replicates the original Mawson’s Huts, built by Sir Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition in 1911–1914. These huts housed Mawson and his team on the Antarctic ice, providing shelter during their groundbreaking scientific studies and helping cement Australia’s role in Antarctic research. Through exhibits, artefacts and immersive reconstructions, visitors can learn about life in these remote conditions, as well as the challenges Mawson’s team faced during their time in Antarctica.

Sir Douglas Mawson, a geologist and explorer, led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914. His team’s primary aim was to investigate the uncharted territories of Antarctica and conduct geological, biological and meteorological research. Upon reaching Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay, Mawson and his team established a base and constructed the original huts, which would become their shelter for the following two years.

The huts are still standing, though in fragile condition, and represent a significant piece of Australia’s Antarctic heritage. They highlight the human endurance required to survive in extreme conditions and are regarded as one of the most complete examples of early 20th-century Antarctic exploration architecture. The Mawson Huts Replica Museum was created to honour this legacy, allowing people to experience a detailed recreation of the living conditions and daily routines of Mawson’s team. Constructed by skilled carpenters, the replica adheres closely to the original layout and materials used, making it a historically accurate representation of the original huts.

What to see at Mawson Huts Replica Museum

Mawson Huts Replica Museum offers a range of exhibits and displays that recreate life during the AAE expedition. The museum interior features exact replicas of the original huts’ layout, including the living quarters, kitchen and workspaces where Mawson’s team carried out their scientific studies. The layout showcases the confined living conditions and the efforts required to survive in temperatures that often dropped below -30°.

Visitors can see reproductions of the bunk beds and sleeping bags used by the team, as well as essential survival tools like sledges and tents. There are also recreated kitchen areas, where a primitive stove and basic cooking equipment illustrate the limited resources available to the men. Photographs and diary entries line the walls, capturing daily routines, moments of camaraderie, and insights into the hardships faced by Mawson and his team. These personal stories bring the historic expedition to life, illustrating the extreme physical and mental challenges of their journey.

The museum also features displays on Antarctic wildlife, ice formations and the scientific research conducted by Mawson’s team. These displays provide an insight into the impact of Antarctic studies on modern science.

Visiting Mawson Huts Replica Museum

The museum is centrally located in the city centre not far from Constitution Dock. The IXL Tasmanian Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum and the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery are all less than a five-minute walk from here.

The museum operates daily and entry costs $15.

While the museum is accessible to visitors with mobility challenges, with ramps and facilities to accommodate wheelchairs, the tight spaces in the hut replicas may limit ease of access to some areas.

Visitor facilities include a gift shop and its central location means that there are plenty of other places to eat and drink nearby.

It is a relatively small museum and a visit shouldn’t take more than an hour.

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Corner Morrison and Argyle Streets, Hobart TAS 7000
Website www.mawsons-huts.org.au
Admission $15, seniors $12, students $12, children (6–16) $5, children (5 and under) free
Open 10am–5pm daily