House of Darwin fashion brand founder Shaun Edwards hit with domestic violence order

An ex-AFL player who set up an internationally acclaimed ‘social enterprise’ clothing brand has been placed under a domestic violence restraining order.

Darwin Local Court heard NT Police had issued a domestic violence order against House of Darwin founder Shaun Patrick Edwards. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Darwin-based founder of an internationally acclaimed ‘social enterprise’ clothing brand has been placed under a domestic violence restraining order.

On Friday, Darwin Local Court heard NT Police had issued a domestic violence order against House of Darwin founder Shaun Patrick Edwards.

The former Essendon and Greater Western Sydney AFL footballer founded House of Darwin in 2020, with the Territory based company growing into an internationally acclaimed brand.

Over five years it has launched collaborations between local First Nations artists, major fashion brands including Havaianas, Roark, Afends, Wah Wah Australia, Merrell, and Double Rainbouu and partnered with the AFLW, Melbourne Football Club, and Charles Darwin University.

Darwin Local Court heard NT Police had issued a domestic violence order against House of Darwin founder Shaun Patrick Edwards. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

House of Darwin sells itself as a social enterprise clothing label, that reinvests profits into social programs in remote Indigenous communities.

Outside of court Mr Edwards’ lawyer Matthew Hubber said both parties were going through a “tough separation”, but any allegations of abuse were strenuously denied.

Mr Hubber said he expected both parties would “work towards a mutually satisfactory resolution very soon”.

The is no allegation that Mr Edwards is facing criminal charges in relation to the restraining order.

The interim police restraining order was listed before Registrar Leanne Gordon on Friday, and the full conditions were not detailed in court.

Ms Gordon said there would be exemptions to the domestic violence order in order for the pair to negotiate the management of a shared business.

“If there are active business arrangements which need to be managed over potentially a two-year period, we need to make sure those exceptions — which police have put in as a stop gap measure — to at least get something workable,” Ms Gordon said.

The woman’s barrister, Brooke Houen, said the protected person was supportive of the NT Police order.

“(She) did work with police, I understand, in the construction of that application,” Ms Houen said.

Founder of House of Darwin, Shaun Edwards. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ms Gordon said there may be need for further discussion about how the order “could best be structured so that she is protected if she intends on remaining at the business”.

“It’s only to try and finesse those exemptions,” she said.

Ms Houen said she had preliminary contact with Mr Hubber, about the case, however was unsure “whether he’s formally retained”.

She suggested they wait until Mr Hubber could be “dialled in when the matter is mentioned”.

However, Ms Gordon said given it was unclear Mr Hubber was his lawyer, and Mr Edwards was not at the court, there was “merit to a brief adjournment” pushing back the case by a week.

Ms Gordon adjourned the hearing to July 18 without Mr Hubber or Mr Edwards present.

Mr Hubber, who was in the Supreme Court at the time, voiced his displeasure the case was heard without him 20 minutes before he arrived at the local court.

“The list runs all day … the other counsel knew that I was retained. This is an outrage,” he said.

Ms Gordon said Mr Edwards was given a summons to appear at 9.30am, and his matter was called 45 minutes after that time.

She said since Mr Hubber was not officially on the record, it was appropriate to adjourn the matter for a week.

“I understand that legal representatives are frequently required to be in multiple courts at the same time, and I have no difficulty standing matters down in that case,” she said.

“If you require a matter to be stood down, communicate with the courts, Mr Hubber.”

Originally published as House of Darwin fashion brand founder Shaun Edwards hit with domestic violence order