Mountain, Alpine, Refuge and Cattlemen's Huts in Victoria and NSW

Mountain, Alpine Refuge and Cattlemen's Huts

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Last updated: Feb 23 2009.
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The following Victorian mountain huts are featured to date:

Mt Feathertop Victoria (MUMC Hut)
Federation Hut Mt Feathertop (Vic) (Federation Hut)
Bluff Hut (Vic) (Bluff Hut)
Lovicks Hut (Vic) (Lovicks Hut)
Bindaree Hut (Vic) (Bindaree Hut)
Craigs Hut (Vic) (Craigs Hut)
Davies Plain Hut (Vic) (Davies Plain Hut)
Major Clews Hut (Vic) (Major Clews Hut)
Howitts Hut (Vic) (Howitts Hut)
King River Hut (Vic) (King River Hut)
Moroka Hut (Vic) (Moroka Hut)
Mt Pinnibar Hut (Vic) (Mt Pinnibar Hut)
Suggan Buggan Schoolhouse Hut (Vic) (Suggan Buggan Schoolhouse Hut)
Bungalow Spur (Vic) (Bungalow Spur)
Wheelers Creek Hut (Vic) (Wheelers Creek Hut)

The following NSW mountain huts are featured to date:

Brayshaws Hut (NSW) (Brayshaws Hut)
Cooinbil Hut (NSW) (Cooinbil Hut)
Davies Hut (NSW) (Davies Hut (NSW))
Coolamine Homestead (NSW) (Coolamine Homestead)
Delaneys Hut (NSW) (Delaneys Hut)
McIntryes Hut (NSW) (McIntyres Hut)
Kitchen Hut (Tas) (Kitchen Hut)

Mt Feathertop Victoria (MUMC Hut)

This refuge hut is perhaps the most unique of all Australian alpine huts.

It was built by a large band of Melbourne University Moutaineering Club (MUMC) members in 1965-66 as a Memorial Hut to club members who had lost their lives during mountaineering activities. It was initiated following the deaths of Doug Hatt and Russell Judge who were killed in an avalanche whilst climbing Mt Cook in New Zealand in early 1964.

Mt Feathertop was chosen as it is considered the most alpine like mountain in Victoria with a large cornice developing in winter. Feathertop is a favourite destination for the MUMC and Doug Hatt had lead several winter trips to the mountain. The site was chosen on the NW spur and in full view of the summit. The location was essentially at the tree line and, if climbing up the NW spur, would be at the first point to be truely exposed to the weather.

The design is in the form of an "igloo" with an "airlock entrance tunnel" where wet gear can be stored before entering the main circular open plan lower floor which is about 6.7m diameter. There is a sleeping floor of similar size totally suspended from the aluminium geodesic dome. The site is also on the edge of the ridge and the axis of the hut is directly in line with Mt Fainter two ridges away to the NE. This meant that the front steps keep the hut door clear from a build up of snow drifts and provide an excellent viewing position in good weather.

The triangulated framework is covered with overlapping triangular flat sheets of aluminium pop-rivetted to hollow rectangular tubes connected together. A number of the triangular panels along the bottom have been replaced by rather thick glass (some windows open as fire escape routes). The top dome panels have been replaced with fibreglass sheets giving an effective skylight to the upper floor.

Beneath the timber floor, a cellar was excavated and two water tanks were carried in as there is no immediately adjacent source of water. The front entrance tunnel shape reflects the dome and has rather unique bracing scheme to prevent being distorted by snow and wind as was the case with many other traditional timber alpine huts.

All the materials were carried in by hand although the possibility of lifting the completed dome in by helicopter was investigated. Most materials were carried across from a point several kilometres north of the main summit of Feathertop. Other parties chose to walk up from Harrietville and fewer walked across the razorback from Mt Hotham. The new NW Spur track was also utilized.

Originally left unpainted, its reflection could be seen from the Ovens valley below and the hut was painted a rather dark green. The major bushfires which swept through much of Victoria in the summer of 2002-3 burnt the dunny (Little Feathertop Hut) an all the bush surrounding the hut. The hut itself was saved by a helicopter dropping fire retardants onto the hut itself. (The nearby Federation Hut was destroyed in the same fires and it is understood that the dropped fire retardants missed the target).

There are brass plaques inside the hut to many MUMC members. Several members were killed in a car accident on their way to work on the hut construction near Mt Blowhard. There is also a plaque to Tom Kneen who was killed on Feathertop's notorious winter's cornice in 1986. The track up the NW Spur which was hand built by club members at the time has since been renamed The Tom Kneen Track.

MUMC Hut after the 2002-03 Bushfires.	MUMC Hut after the 2002-03 Bushfires.	MUMC Hut after the 2002-03 Bushfires Front steps repaired. NB Burnt snowgum was touching the dome!
Inside looking towards the front entrance and air lock for wet gear	Inside - kitchen with windows looking towards the summit	Front the upper level sleeping quarters showing the fibreglass skylight	Plaque to two climbers killed in NZ
MUMC hut foundations and floor bearers	Dome under construction 1966	Dome under construction 1966	Dome under construction Easter 1966 with summit of Feathertop in background.
Dome construction	Dome construction	Dome construction	Completed Dome (pre painting)
Completed Hut	Dome in winter	Dome in winter NB Clear steps	P. Kneen, his father & friend visit 1972

Federation Hut Mt Feathertop (Vic)

The main walking track to the summit was up the Bungalow Spur from Harrietville. During the 1960s there was a hut located several kilometres from the summit and well below the tree line. It was at the location of much earlier small chalets near a small spring. (I think built in the 1920s by the Victorian Railways). In winter, the Bungalow hut was often half buried under snow, had a significant lean, jammed entrance door and was generally a long way (45 minutes) from where the track emerged from the trees and into the "weather" that might be expected on the summit climb.

The idea of the Federation (of Victorian Walking Clubs) hut location was that it would be at the tree line thus giving a better location for climbers to guage the weather conditions. The location was not far down from "The Cross" and the route along the Razorback to Mt Hotham.

Some aspects of the design were based on a model for an earlier design for the then completed MUMC hut. This had some diagonal members for the main frames to prevent the tendency for normal huts to develop a lean (like the Bungalow hut). It is understood that much of the material was lifted to the site by helicopter. The hut was destroyed in the 2002-03 bushfires and was rebuilt and flown in.

The nearby toilet block is a raised, multi cell block with containers that can be airlifted out when full.

Initial design for the MUMC
Memorial Hut provided a starting point
Replacement Prefab Hut
following 2002-3 fires
Replacement Prefab Hut
following 2002-3 fires
The "palace" with tanks under

Pine Valley Hut (1963 - Tasmania)

This picture was taken on a winter trip to climb Mt Hyperion and do a circuit through Big Gun Pass.
Doug Hatt on right, then Tom Price, Russell Judge, Barry Pullen and myself on the left.
This was a "training" trip for Doug and Russell who were later killed on Mt Cook NZ
which in turn lead to the construction of the MUMC Memorial Hut on Mt Feathertop.

This hut no longer exists but has been replaced by a far more modern affair.

Bluff Hut (Vic)

This magnificent cattlemans hut on The Bluff had numerous rooms, many double bunks and hot and cold water.

It was burnt Victorian bushfires of January 2007. The photos show the hut before the fires and the last picture shows the new replacement hut as at March 2008. It was originally built in 1955 by local cattlemen and more recently Chris Stoney has looked after the management of the hut and has lead the work in its reconstruction.

Lovicks Hut (Vic)

Another cattlemans hut not far from The Bluff Hut which also got destroyed in 2002-03 fires. The photo shows the reconstruction at March 2008.

Bindaree Hut (Vic)

This hut and surrounds on the Howqua is popular with horse riders. Photo taken 2002.

Craigs Hut (Vic)

Craigs Hut is a favourite 4WD destination on Mt Stirling, north of Mt Buller.

It is really quite new having been built as a replica cattlemen's hut for the shooting of the film "The Man from Snowy River" in 1981. It had several "rebuilds" - later having paved bricks for a floor and a roof that didn't really seem waterproof. This picture taken before the 2002-03 fires. It was burnt down in the 2006 fires. The picture is taken before those fires.

Davies Plain Hut (Vic)

A very popular 4WD destination, it is of very solid log construction (rebuilt in 1995) and originally built in 1939.

Davies Hut (NSW - Gungarlin River, Snowy Plain)

Aparently built in 1909.

Bungalow Spur (Vic)

This hut has long disappeared and replaced by The Federation Hut and the MUMC Memorial huts on Mt Feathertop. It was located at the site of a 1920s "resort" and a clear area of grass called "The Playgrounds". These pictures taken in the mid 1960s.

Brayshaws Hut (NSW)

The hut was built in 1903 for David Brayshaw who lived there for some 28 years. It was a slab and shingle construction but was restored in 1993.

The hut is located alongside the N-S road in the southern part of the Namadgi National Park SW from Canberra.

Cooinbil Hut (NSW)

The original hut is thought to have been built around 1866 and known as Long Plain Hut - the lease on the whole area being established in 1839. The current hut was reconstructed after the early hut collapsed in 1987 due to a large branch falling on it.

There is a book about the hut and area Cooinbil - Recollections and Restoration Harry Hill 1995, Wilkie Watson Pub 114pp.

There are horse yards nearby with signs that the area is often used by horse riders. A good campsite and toilets.

Coolamine Homestead (NSW)

This is a popular destination, being accessible by normal cars. There are three main buildings recently restored from the 1980s. Again the area was used for grazing since about 1839. The Southwell family built the first house in 1883 and the log cheesehouse followed in 1889 (kitchen). The Cambell family residence followed in 1890.

Delaneys Hut (NSW)

Also known as Delanys Hut - the original was built in 1910. Rebuilt after being burnt by fires in January 2003 - looks brand new in this November 2008 picture.