It is named after Sir Douglas Mawson, a geologist and explorer who made several expeditions to Antarctica.

The 2016 redistribution ahead of the 2018 election heavily redistributed Mawson from a 5.6 percent Labor seat to a notional 3.2 percent Liberal seat, taking in areas down the coast as far as and including Kangaroo Island.

[2] However, Bignell picked up a swing of over four percent to narrowly retain the seat even as Labor lost government; he thus became its second opposition member.

In 2022, Bignell achieved a big swing of over 15% to win the primary vote with over 51% and a 13% swing on the two-party preferred margin giving it a 63% Two-Party Preferred margin making it a safe Labor seat.

Bignell has temporarily become an independent from April 2024 to sit as Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.