Our mission is to assist with the management, conservation and rebuilding of huts and associated structures in the High Country of Victoria in partnership with Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Howitt Hut (Repaired)

Bluff Hut (Courtesy Herald-Sun)

Federation Hut (ParksVic Rebuild)

Craigs Hut (Rebuild)

Flying Swagman

Frys

Gibsons

Lavertys

Inside Lavertys

Tomahawk

Ropers Rebuilding

Vallejo Gantner Hut

Gibsons

Refuge

Quintet

History

The VHCHA was formed in 2003 after the disastrous bushfires that year in an estimated 25% of huts in the high country were lost including the historic Horsehair Hut, the oldest cattleman's hut in the alpine area.

During the 2003 fires there were some 65 huts lost (and a further 15 were lost in 2006-7), but with about 200 remaining the Association has worked very hard for the last three and half years to preserve the rich history of Victoria as associated with the high country huts, which include cattleman’s huts, miner’s huts and cottages, homesteads, ski huts, bush-walker’s huts, and refuge huts of every shape and description, as well as some unique huts such as the Flying Swagman in the Corryong area and the Underground hut at Yackandandah. Victoria is fortunate to have several heritage listed huts and the VHCHA is in the process of preparing applications for heritage listing of other worthy huts.

A key aspect of the system for maintenance of huts is the appointment of Huts Maintenance Officers (HMOs) for each of 13 regions and these key people liaise with the responsible agencies (Parks Victoria and DSE) and caretaker groups, many of which have a long history of looking after huts.

There has been a continuous maintenance and survey program of huts by the HMOs and VHCHA members with the caretaker groups and responsible statutory authorities since 2003. In excess of 5000 volunteer hours have been recorded for official work parties, meetings and administration.

A Memorandum of Understanding between VHCHA and the Alpine District of Parks Victoria was signed by VHCHA and Parks Victoria on 29 September 2006 to ensure cooperation and community involvement in the ongoing protection of High County Huts.

Activities

Our members have been involved in many activities.

These include rebuilding, maintenance, cleaning up and fire-proofing, carpentry and building and re-roofing. There has been training in use of bushmen's tools such as the broad axes, ads and chain saws. Our members are conscious of issues in job safety management and proper skills job safety assessment. Activities provide an opportunity for sharing and learning of skills associated with the bushmen and builders of the high country and the unique techniques and methods used in the past.

For the latest news on VHCHA Hut Building and Maintenance go to 'Current Activities'.

Some of the activities over the past few years have been:

April 2003: Built Horsehair hut replica on new site on Horsehair Plain to commemorate the loss of Horsehair hut, the oldest High Country hut in Victoria before the 2003 fires.

January 2004: Conducted Pioneer Skills Workshop in Omeo to support the Omeo Community one year after the fires and as a lasting tribute built the Roughriders hut in traditional cattleman style on the Omeo Rodeo paddock.

April 2004: Rebuilt McNamaras hut, Buckety Plain, on the original site and to the design of the hut destroyed by the 2003 fires. Like the original hut, the new hut is used extensively by the Mittagundi Outdoor Education Centre.

Winter 2004: Input to designs for replacement of Federation and Michell huts by Parks Victoria.

April 2005: Major maintenance on CRB hut, Dinner Plain.

May 2005: Emergency repairs to Frys hut which eventually became two year program to restore the hut.

April 2006: HMOs and other members visited the Currango homestead in the Kosciuszko National Park (NSW) for a workshop Huts in the Landscape convened by the Australian Alps Liaison Committee.

May 2006: High Country Huts Conference titled “Working Together To Get The Job Done” was held in Dinner Plain and involved Parks Victoria, DSE and VHCHA.

September 2006: Memorandum of Understanding between VHCHA and the Alpine District of Parks Victoria signed on 29 September to ensure cooperation and community involvement in the ongoing protection of High Country Huts.

December 2006: Special Bulletin issued to members to address concerns about the Great Divide fires and to advise of the suspension of VHCHA activities until the fire danger had passed. The rebuild of Ropers hut by VHCHA and Parks Victoria was postponed until 2007.

March 2007: Government allocated $60,000 for restoration of high country huts by VHCHA. The VHCHA has been represented at all Burnt Huts Stakeholders meetings convened by Parks Victoria and DSE this year.

July 2007: Maintaining huts of the high country requires old skills and there are currently only a handful of skilled craftsmen available to the VHCHA. So that these skills are maintained and extended the VHCHA Committee actively supports and promotes a range of skills based activities for interested members to participate in and two such workshop held in July 2007 covered pole splicing and slab splitting.

September 2007: Completion of major works to restore Frys hut.

January 2008: Work on Ropers Hut rebuild, assistance with rebuilding Craigs and Bluff Huts. Heritage survey of huts commenced in the Marysville/Baw Baw areas. Refurbishing of Tomahawk, Upper Jamieson and Razorback huts was carried out over the summer period. Repair works also carried out on Guys, Kellys and McMichaels huts. HMOs were busy in many regions carrying out site inspections and minor repairsand maintenance.

For further details see 'Current News'

Membership

Since February 2003 the VHCHA has grown to a membership of almost 190 individuals and corporate members and is regarded by Parks Victoria and DSE as the peak body in Victoria for matters relating to huts in the Victorian parks and forests. Corporate members of the Association include bush walking clubs, 4WD clubs, ski clubs, an education centre and a management group for the Scout Association. The VHCHA is registered with Parks Victoria as a “Friends Group” and has affiliated with the “Friends Network” to promote hands on work of hut maintenance.

Membership is inexpensive at $30 for an individual or $50 for an organisation.

Download the membership application and forward to the Secretary of the association.