Bindaree Hut, Howqua River 1994 Alpine huts 1994, sheet 01 0020
Victorian Alpine Huts survey, for Parks Victoria April, May 1994: Negative Sheet 1 of 31.
This hut was shown in the 1930s as a basic log structure with a skillion form semi-detached chimney part clad with corrugated iron sheeting and logs{ Stephenson: 137}. It was thought by Harry Stephenson to have been built by Fred Fry, Harry Norris, Joe McIlroy and Harry O’Brien { Stephenson: 137}. However descendents of the local forestry officer, Arthur Dale, believe he built it along with the similarly constructed Tomahawk Hut (q.v.) in the late 1920s, early 1930s { Walker}. Dale preceded Fry as forestry officer for the Mansfield district and, like Fry, needed base huts for his forest patrols. A photograph from 1939 shows members of the Melbourne Women's Walking Club (formed 1922) standing in front of a log hut similar to the present one but with what appears to be a log fireplace in place of the current stone one . Another photograph of 1947 shows Jack Lovick at the hut which is similar to the 1930s form. The log walls shown here, however, differ in part from those which exist today. An image supplied by John Mitchell (Kosciuszko Huts Association website 2004) from 1971 shows Bindaree in its earlier form, with the remains of a log and corrugated iron clad chimney resembling more the associated Tomahawk Hut (q.v.). First hut An earlier hut is depicted in a photo dated 1.1.1926 and named on the print as Bindaree. It shows an entirely different structure, being of vertical slabs with a shallow bark roof . This was reputedly the first hut at or near this site. Another photo of this hut, taken in 1916, has Jim Barclay standing in front of the hut, two years before his murder at Wonnangatta { Carroll}. The John Ware family settled on the Howqua River about six miles downstream from Fry’s Hut late last century. They moved upstream to a Stockyard Creek selection in 1925 and in time opened up the Upper Howqua for High Plains summer grazing use, leasing run E8 from c1909-32 along the Howqua River { Cabena, 1980}. They built mustering huts and yards throughout the area, including at Mt. Clear and on the Jamieson River3. Meanwhile John’s family moved into Merrijig, leaving a son Jack, to run the farm; Jack was also a skilled bushman and guided many tourists into the High Country. The first Bindaree Hut(s) may have been built by or for Jim Ware (son of John ) on the Ware’s grazing lease, E8. Jim owned a property at Merrijig from c1928-9 which was also called Bindaree. This served as a base for packing hikers and skiers to Mt. Buller and other High Country destinations. He and his wife Catherine lived at Merrijig until 1957 { Stoney: 37}.
Bindaree Hut, Howqua River 1994 Alpine huts 1994, sheet 01 0020
Victorian Alpine Huts survey, for Parks Victoria April, May 1994: Negative Sheet 1 of 31.
This hut was shown in the 1930s as a basic log structure with a skillion form semi-detached chimney part clad with corrugated iron sheeting and logs{ Stephenson: 137}. It was thought by Harry Stephenson to have been built by Fred Fry, Harry Norris, Joe McIlroy and Harry O’Brien { Stephenson: 137}. However descendents of the local forestry officer, Arthur Dale, believe he built it along with the similarly constructed Tomahawk Hut (q.v.) in the late 1920s, early 1930s { Walker}. Dale preceded Fry as forestry officer for the Mansfield district and, like Fry, needed base huts for his forest patrols. A photograph from 1939 shows members of the Melbourne Women's Walking Club (formed 1922) standing in front of a log hut similar to the present one but with what appears to be a log fireplace in place of the current stone one . Another photograph of 1947 shows Jack Lovick at the hut which is similar to the 1930s form. The log walls shown here, however, differ in part from those which exist today. An image supplied by John Mitchell (Kosciuszko Huts Association website 2004) from 1971 shows Bindaree in its earlier form, with the remains of a log and corrugated iron clad chimney resembling more the associated Tomahawk Hut (q.v.). First hut An earlier hut is depicted in a photo dated 1.1.1926 and named on the print as Bindaree. It shows an entirely different structure, being of vertical slabs with a shallow bark roof . This was reputedly the first hut at or near this site. Another photo of this hut, taken in 1916, has Jim Barclay standing in front of the hut, two years before his murder at Wonnangatta { Carroll}. The John Ware family settled on the Howqua River about six miles downstream from Fry’s Hut late last century. They moved upstream to a Stockyard Creek selection in 1925 and in time opened up the Upper Howqua for High Plains summer grazing use, leasing run E8 from c1909-32 along the Howqua River { Cabena, 1980}. They built mustering huts and yards throughout the area, including at Mt. Clear and on the Jamieson River3. Meanwhile John’s family moved into Merrijig, leaving a son Jack, to run the farm; Jack was also a skilled bushman and guided many tourists into the High Country. The first Bindaree Hut(s) may have been built by or for Jim Ware (son of John ) on the Ware’s grazing lease, E8. Jim owned a property at Merrijig from c1928-9 which was also called Bindaree. This served as a base for packing hikers and skiers to Mt. Buller and other High Country destinations. He and his wife Catherine lived at Merrijig until 1957 { Stoney: 37}.