Gavels Hut
Photograph by Olaf Moon © 2003.
Known as Gavels Hut, Gravel Hut or Gavells Hut
Located at the southern end of Tantangara Plain between Gang Gang Mountain and Bulgar Hill. Access to the hut is via a firetrail from near to Tantangara Dam. Grid reference is 498259 on the Denison 1:25,000 map.
This hut survived both the 2003 and 2020 bushfires.
It is surprising that this hut is not more popular, especially for families, as access is easy from the sealed highway, about 3 kms past Adaminaby. The firetrail leads off to the right, almost directly opposite the Kosciusko National Park sign, on the highway. It leads around a few bends, then up a hill for about 1.5 Km, to a perfect open plain, and the hut. It can also be accessed from the North. Water and firewood are available nearby.
Brief History
Gavels was built by Dick Schofield and Roy Rawson in 1931, and used for grazing. However, Tom Taylor swears he stayed in it in 1929 and that it was built by James Gavel himself about 1922. Our view is that this was the previous hut built across the gully about 200 m away and facing west.
It was owned by James Gavel, who built an earlier hut across the gully. That hut was built of corrugated iron with a flat roof. The last owners were Arthur Yen and Greg Welch.
Construction
Gavels is about 6.5m by 4.5m in size. It is built from timber with horizontal weatherboard cladding. The roof is of iron and the floor of timber. The chimney has a brick hearth and is clad in iron at the top. There is no NPWS toilet at this site.
Caretakers - Wheaton Chipmunks
References
Hueneke Pp 204 and 205.
KHA Reference number is 1413 and the
KNP POM number is L.15.
A history sheet exists.
No Conservation Plan exists for this site.
Wayne Schofield - pers comm.
GPS: