A historic luncheon held in Hobart in 1911 for Sir Douglas Mawson and his Antarctic expedition members is being recreated with a modern twist. The event, titled 'Reimagining Mawson’s Lunch — An Evening Honouring Antarctic Legacy,' will take place on December 11, 2025, at Hadley’s Orient Hotel, the same venue where the original meal occurred.
The evening is hosted by the Mawson’s Huts Foundation in partnership with the Antarctic Women’s Network and supported by Aurora expedition cruise company. Tickets are priced at $225, with proceeds supporting conservation work at Cape Denison, preserving the historic huts of Australia’s first Antarctic story.
Hadley’s head chef will reimagine the original 1911 menu for a five-course dinner limited to 60 guests. The program includes presentations and performances celebrating Mawson’s life, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, and the contributions of women in Antarctic science, exploration, and cultural heritage.
Guests can also view an exhibition on Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who stayed at Hadley’s after returning from the South Pole in 1912. Additionally, visitors to the hotel can scan a QR code to hear an audio story about the expedition members’ lunch, narrated by actor Ben Winspear with soundscapes by Tasmanian musicians.
The original 1911 luncheon preceded the departure of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition on December 2, 1911, aboard the ship Aurora under Captain John King Davis. The expedition lasted three years, from 1911 to 1914, and included notable members such as photographer Frank Hurley, magnetician Eric Webb, and chief medical officer Archibald McLean.
