CMW Work party to Pretty Plain Hut

On a Monday  just before Xmas five members of the Coast and Mountain Walkers headed for Pretty Plain Hut.

Steve Robinson had called for volunteers to help in the hut rebuild early in September. He is a member of KHA and a few of us decided it sounded like a good thing too. I organised my mate Keith Johnson, who has a Nissan Patrol, and Duncan Cross interested his neighbour Andrew.  Bruce Stuckey also put up his hand.

Those of us not already members of KHA joined up so we would be covered by their insurance.

I spoke to Megan Bowden, who is the Ranger in charge of Huts in Kosciuszko North, and Ian Frakes of the KHA, who supplied us with a key to the gate at Murray 1 Power Station.

After a night at 3 Mile Dam at Kiandra  we met up with Ewe Peterson and Peter Scobie, NPWS Park Workers at the gate and proceeded to drive up the Strumbo Fire Trail.

This 4WD trail starts at the Surge Tank above the Power Station and climbs to about 1600m along a narrow ridge. We had absolutely stunning views down into the Murray Valley on one hand, and of the Grey Mare Range on the other. Eventually we got to the top of the ridge from where we could see the Dargals, Jagungal, Grey Mare Bogong, Watsons Crags and the Main Range near Mount Townsend. What a sight!

The track then wound down into a saddle at the top of Pretty Plain Creek, where we unloaded all our walking gear and tools to be taken in by quad bikes driven by Ewe and Peter with Megan giving the orders.

The NPWS supplied a couple of Yamaha Rhinos, which we packed up with all our gear.

Figure 1 Yamaha Rhino

We then drove our 4WD’s over the next ridge to the saddle at the top ofBulls Head Creek from where we walked down the old bridle trail to the Hut Worksite.

Figure 2 Our Party of volunteer Hut Rebuilders. Phil, Duncan, Andrew, Steve, Keith.

The original Hut was built for Colin Chisholm the holder of the grazing lease in 1953 at the head of the Bulls Head Creek.

When grazing ceased in the mountains, the hut was used as a refuge for hikers and skiers.

In 2003 the hut was destroyed by bushfires that swept through Mt Kosciusko National Park.

The new hut was constructed off site at the Khancoban Works Depot by Peter and Ewe. The ash logs were sourced from around the area and the construction used methods which were typical of the days when the original was built.

The reconstructed hut was then dismantled and packed into 500Kg bundles and transported by road to Tooma Dam.

From there a NPWS helicopter spent a day flying the loads into site, something like 80 loads.

When we arrived on site, after filling in waiver forms for the NPWS, we were given an OHS talk by Megan.

After lunch we got into it!

Figure 3 Pretty Plain Hut Work Site

The hut is being built on the exact footprint of the old one. Where in the original hut the bearers rested on the ground or on granite footings, the new hut has long steel poles that were screwed into the ground using the excavator on-site. These were then sawn off to precise levels, and checked using a modern laser level.  

Then the process of logging commenced.

Each layer is numbered and each log is labelled with a letter which designates its position. We had to find the required log, connect a sling to it whilst Peter used the excavator to lift and carry the log into position. A bit like a giant Lego, really.

After delicately positioning the logs atop some bituminised weather strips, we proceeded to add logs to the current layer. When we arrived four layers were in place. When we left, the ninth layer was in place.

Figure 4 Steve at a new Window-to-be.

After the layer was in place we had to mark up the centre lines carefully, so Ewe could drill holes through each log. Eventually the 12 layers will be bolted to plates on top of the screw rods. Nothing will blow this hut away!

Figure 5 Ewe drills a log.

Figure 6 Duncan uses a Draw Knife to smooth the corners of each log.

I would say that all of us had a fantastic time. We all learned new skills from Ewe and Peter and their company was a delight.

Unfortunately the last day blew badly, and we endured a dusty worksite, being filthy by the end of the day. Peter and Ewe let us make use of their shower every night, but at the end of putting layer 9 in place, Peter was told to get us out because a bushfire had erupted near Tumbarumba.

It took us three hours to pack up, walk back to the cars and drive out to the Alpine Way.

Peter was kind enough to put us up in his Khancoban house for the night.

We all agreed we would go back for more.

Figure 7 Pretty Plain Hut. CMW walk 1983.

The new hut will even have recycled galvanised iron on the roof and chimney!

Phil Lambe

All photos by P Lambe.

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