Huts
of the Bogong High Plains.
The families who built them and used them.
The families who built them and used them.
There
are many huts on the Bogong High Plains and this exhibition features the huts
which built and used by graziers from the Upper Kiewa Valley. The huts and
families highlighted are Ryder’s, Edmondson’s, Roper’s, Maddison’s, and those
graziers who shared these huts, the Cooper’s and Hollond’s.
(Due to its historical significance Wallace’s Hut will also be mentioned).
The exhibition displays unique items that have been loaned by the graziers and items from our own collection, which show how these families lived in their huts during mustering.
(Due to its historical significance Wallace’s Hut will also be mentioned).
The exhibition displays unique items that have been loaned by the graziers and items from our own collection, which show how these families lived in their huts during mustering.
As far back as 1880’s huts have been built on the Bogong
High Plains to be used as shelter by cattlemen taking their
cattle up to the high plains for summer grazing.
These families built their huts and yards, in the area of their grazing leases.
The cattle would be driven up to the high plains towards end of Spring, and left to graze during the warm summer months.
The Ryders, Hollands & Coopers would head up Fainter Spur, towards Mt Fainter, Pretty Valley, Rocky Valley, Mt Jim and Mt Cope.
The Roper’s and Edmondson’s would head up the high plains towards Mt Nelse.
Whereas the Maddinson’s went up Mountain Creek on to Mt Bogong itself and operated independently from the Bogong High Plains families.
Then before the weather turned cold the cattlemen would return to their high plains huts for the big muster.
These families built their huts and yards, in the area of their grazing leases.
The cattle would be driven up to the high plains towards end of Spring, and left to graze during the warm summer months.
The Ryders, Hollands & Coopers would head up Fainter Spur, towards Mt Fainter, Pretty Valley, Rocky Valley, Mt Jim and Mt Cope.
The Roper’s and Edmondson’s would head up the high plains towards Mt Nelse.
Whereas the Maddinson’s went up Mountain Creek on to Mt Bogong itself and operated independently from the Bogong High Plains families.
Then before the weather turned cold the cattlemen would return to their high plains huts for the big muster.
Tawonga Huts.
Tawonga Huts got their name because people from Tawonga built them and used them.
There has been a series of huts at this site from 1880 onwards. The first one was originally built by John Ryder and his sons. It was described by Syd Ryder as, “A shingle roof and snow gum walls, and maybe a few slabs on the floor. The bloody thing lasted for 20 years and was burnt down, not fell down”
The second Tawonga hut was built in the early 1900’s and was “a bit better jog this time, but still pretty airy” Its end came about 20 years later when a cow went into it, got stuck and “half demolished the thing trying to get out”!
The third hut was a paling hut with an iron roof, built by the Tawonga graziers in 1923, which sheltered the cattlemen & women, skiers and walkers for over 30 years.
In 1973 Wally Ryder built two huts and a feed shed at the Tawonga Huts site. These were used on the way up to the high plains and when coming off.
