Artlab Australia

Mawson Balaklava Replica makes it to the Antarctic

Whilst in Hobart in November last year, Chung from Melbourne visited the Mawson's Huts Replica Museum. At their shop, Chung found the Douglas Mawson balaclava knitting pattern, published by Artlab. The pattern copies the original knitted balaclava worn by Sir Douglas Mawson when he travelled to the Antarctic in the early 20th Century. The balaclava is now part of the South Australian Museum collection. Chung purchased the pattern with the intention of knitting it as he was planning on going to Antarctica in March 2026. He also purchased some Tasmanian merino wool to knit the balaclava.

Chung completed knitting the balaclava and took it to Antarctica on a recent adventure tour. The photo shows Chung modelling the replica whilst in Antarctica and at the Mawson's Huts Replica Museum in Hobart where the pattern is for sale. It is also for sale at the South Australian Museum Shop.

Chung said “Thanks Artlab, for recreating the balaclava pattern and preserving a part of Australian Antarctic history!”

Thank you, Chung!

One of South Australia’s earliest WWI memorials, Dardanelles Memorial, has been carefully restored, ensuring its history and stories can continue to be honoured for generations to come.

Thanks to , the conservation work included gentle cleaning, structural stabilisation and improving the legibility of the original inscriptions.

Today, it stands as part of the ANZAC Centenary Memorial Walk on Kintore Avenue, linking the National Memorial on North Terrace, with the Pathway of Honour and Torrens Parade Ground.

As ANZAC Day approaches, we’re proud to preserve places of remembrance across the city.

Commemorate with us in the city this ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April.

Sealed within the McKinlay Monument for over 150 years, this time capsule brought a sense of mystery to our labs.
Conservators Jo Dawe, Robin Tait, and Sophie Parker were thrilled to work with the Town of Gawler to carefully open the time capsule and reveal it's contents.

Chris Cowley, CEO of the Town of Gawler, adds "The work undertaken by Artlab Australia’s expert conservators has allowed us to safely uncover and preserve these incredibly fragile documents. What was once sealed away within the McKinlay Memorial can now be studied, protected and shared, helping us better understand the people, institutions and ambitions that shaped early Gawler."

Watch the reveal and read more about the time capsule below.

Gawler History Revealed: Time Capsule Opened After 150 Years A remarkable piece of Gawler’s history has been brought back to life, with a time capsule hidden inside the McKinlay Monument opened for the first time in more than 150 years.Sealed within a lead container and placed inside the memorial by the community in the nineteenth century, the capsule was i...

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🎄

It was lovely to be invited to last week's unveiling of the Mary Ann Tucker Leather Frame and Embroidery at the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre. It was a pleasure to see the work now proudly on display and to meet the people who made it possible.

A wonderful celebration of community and heritage last week, as we welcomed Minister Andrea Michaels MP along with members of the Greek Orthodox community and the Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood and Eastern Suburbs Inc. to view the significant conservation treatment recently completed on the Parish's icon.

We can't wait to see it back in its home.