Bogong High Plains - Huts

Huts

Alpine huts in the area provide accommodation for people out in the winter ski touring and those interested in hiking or other activities in the summertime. There are tens of huts in this area, each different and equipped for different purposes. They were first built by European pastoralists moving in from NSW in the 1830s. They are no longer used by pastoralists. Many are run by ski clubs but some are not regularly used or maintained at all.

Wallace's Hut is the oldest on the high plains. Originally built in 1889 like most of the huts has been extended since. It has no modern facilities and so is not used for accommodation. It measures 4.5 m by 3.7 m.

Bogong Rover Chalet was the first lodge developed in the area, before the creation of the ski resorts in Australia. It was started in 1938 by Rover Scouts from Victoria. It has the best facilities of any hut or lodge outside of a resort in Australia, with full comforts and amenities for 35 people. It has been expanded and refurbished since it was built. It uses solar power, gas, wood heating and runs its own electricity generators. It has a full kitchen, showers and runs 13 winter weeks for Rovers and Venturer Scouts.

Cope Hut was built by the Ski Club of Victoria in 1929.

Fitzgerald Hut was one of the older huts. It was accidentally burnt down by a school group in 1991 and rebuilt in 1993.

Roper Hut was burnt down in the bushfire of 2003 and rebuilt in 2008.

Wilkinson Lodge affectionately known as Wilky was built by the State Electricity Commission as a hydrological survey hut prior to the construction of the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme. The hut was later sold to a ski club but this sale never included title to the land on which it sat. The hut was purchased in 1962 by members of the Melbourne Bushwalkers who then donated it to the club. The hut was renovated and maintained by the Melbourne Bushwalkers and used throughout the winter as a base for cross-country skiing. It was well-used throughout the year for research and outdoor activities by members and by many other groups. It survived the 2003 bushfires but burnt down one year later (January 2004) in a cooking accident, while being used by non-members. The woodshed still remains. The National Parks Service which administers the land has refused permission to rebuild.

Batty's Hut burnt down in the bushfires of 2006.

Cleve Cole Hut on Mount Bogong was built in 1938 as a memorial to Cleve Cole who died on a ski trip on Mount Bogong. Technically, Mt Bogong is not part of the Bogong High Plains. Also on Mt Bogong are Michell Hut, on Eskdale Spur, which was rebuilt after the 2003 fires and Bivouac Hut on the Staircase Spur.

Other huts include Tawonga Huts, Young's Hut, Ryder's Huts, Cope Saddle Hut, Pretty Valley Hut, Edmondson Hut, Johnston's Hut, Buckety Plains Hut, Faithful's Hut, Langford Gap Hut.