HIGH COUNTRY HERITAGE UNDER THREAT

There have been a number of reported losses of huts in the Victorian high country, including the highest profile hut in Australia, Craig’s Hut at Mt Stirling, built for the iconic movie The Man from Snowy River as depicted in the Banjo Pattison poem of the same name.  “We are uncertain as to what other huts have been lost and it may be many months before we will be in a position to confirm the extent of the losses,” said Mrs Fiona Magnussen, President of the Victorian High Country Huts Association, “as an Association we lament the loss of all cultural and heritage icons of our past, both European and Indigenous, but at this time we are far more concerned about the lives and homes of the people of Victoria, and the welfare of stock and wild animals.”

During the 2003 fires there were some 65 huts lost, but with over 200 remaining the Association has worked very hard for the last three years to preserve the rich history of Victoria as associated with the high country huts - 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 Association is in the process of preparing applications for heritage listing of other worthy huts.

The Association has received many calls and emails from its members as well as members of the public wanting to help.  “We are grateful for their offers of assistance, however our first and foremost priority during this extreme fire danger is to keep everyone safe.  People must be our first priority and we cannot protect huts at the expense of human safety,” said Mrs Magnussen.

She went on to say “We all love the huts but in many regards we have to trust that our preparations are sufficient, that the work of the last three years will not have been in vain, and hope for the best outcome for the huts.  By their very nature huts are located in remote areas and it is not appropriate to try to enter those areas while fires are active, or even once they have passed as there are many dangers, not the least of which is damaged trees that can fall with no warning.  Many tracks will be closed for several months, possibly until after winter 2007, as Parks Victoria and DSE officers will need time to assess the damage.”

The Victorian High Country Huts Association and Parks Victoria and DSE have a strong relationship of cooperation and mutual regard for the high country and its history and heritage and have worked together closely since 2003 to maintain, repair and where appropriate replace huts in the high country, a relationship that will continue in the future.

“Although the cooler weather over the New Year period has given many weary fire fighters a rest and enabled containment work to continue we are conscious that the fire danger period will continue for several more months and we send our thoughts and prayers to all our fellow Australians suffering in drought and fire.” concluded Mrs Magnussen.

To register an interest in the activities of the Victorian High Country Huts Association go to http://www.hutsvictoria.org.au/about/membership.html or contact the Association’s Vice President, Paula Tomsett, on paula@lynxgroup.com.au or 61 3 9840 2595.