Charlie’s Hut was built in 1966 by Wangaratta Ski Club as a memorial to Charlie Derrick, who died while attempting to cross from Mountain Creek, at the foot of Mt Bogong to Mt Hotham in a single day. The hut was built for emergency refuge and day shelter and is part of the “Three Huts Trail”.

On the weekend of 17 & 18 November 2007 members from Wangaratta Ski Club carried out a working bee at the hut. The work is being undertaken by Wang Ski Club with the costs for materials being reimbursed by the Mt Hotham Resort Management under a grant that has been received for the Three Huts Trail.

On Saturday morning, after driving out to the last tow station past the Orchid the first task was to carry in tools and materials the last 1.5 km leg to the hut. After a few hours, and with quite a few aching shoulders and backs all of the materials were out at the hut and the works began. Key jobs for the weekend included:

• Replacing the sub-floor enclosures;
• Replacing the steps;
• Replacing the barge boards at both ends of the hut;
• “Straightening” the toilet and installing lining sheets to keep it straight and;
• Staining the internal walls.

By Saturday evening a reasonable dint had been made in the works and on Sunday morning only a few keen members needed to return to finish off and carry out the tools. Another working bee is planned for early 2008 to replace some of the cracked weatherboards, repaint the hut and replace the wood heater.