Until this week, House of Darwin’s only shopfront was hidden in a nondescript arcade in the Northern Territory’s capital. Neighbouring a record store and a bustling cafe, House of Darwin offered its vibrant apparel and wares from a snug, compact store.
After outgrowing the space, the social enterprise has found a new home in Darwin’s CBD. Much bigger and bolder than the original digs, the new shop is a reflection of House of Darwin’s growth since launching in 2020. “The Air Raid Arcade was where we started, and it’ll always hold a special place in our hearts. But as we’ve grown, it felt like the right time to create a bigger space that could really reflect where we are now,” House of Darwin’s founder, Larrakia man Shaun Edwards, tells Broadsheet.
Everything about this store is personal. “We really wanted the space to feel like a true reflection of the Territory, and that meant working with people who know it best. It was all about sharing skills, stories and building something meaningful together,” Edwards says.
House of Darwin describes itself as a “community-driven love letter to the Northern Territory”, and the new store is a physical manifestation of that. It was designed in-house by House of Darwin’s head of special projects, Jack Normoyle, and the build was facilitated by Edwards’s friend, Will Leveni. The store’s exterior features hand-painted icons by artist Luna Tunes and a hand-etched “Welcome to Darwin” windowpane by Lynes and Co.
Inside, there’s more than clothing and apparel to look at, too. “The rock sculptures are wild. They’re massive, hand-carved pieces of NT stone and a real tribute to the land,” Edwards says of the undulating, one-tonne stones in the space. “The bush-dyed couch from Printshop NT is another favourite,” he adds. The feature piece is a 1970s Featherston Numero VII sofa – it was upholstered locally with bush-dyed fabric from Peppimenarti of Durrmu Arts that was screen-printed at Indigenous-owned textile manufacturing hub, Printshop NT.
The woven light fixtures were handmade in Arnhem Land, and the Jamaican-inspired speakers were handcrafted by Speargrass Hi-Fi using locally reclaimed and recycled materials. The shop’s exterior, floor and feature wall are bathed in a warm red shade, inspired by Larrakia Country. Every bit of the store has a story.
You’ll find the label’s signature vintage-nostalgia-meets-tongue-in-cheek-Australiana iconology on its collection of streetwear essentials, hats, drink bottles, throws and other miscellaneous lifestyle bits.
“We want people to feel connected to the land, the culture and the stories of the Northern Territory,” Edwards says. “We hope people walk away feeling inspired and grounded, with a real sense of the NT’s spirit.”
House of Darwin
2/20 Knuckey St, Darwin
Opening Hours
Mon to Thu 9am–5pm
Fri 9am–5:30pm
Sat 9am–5pm
Sun 10am–3pm
