Major Clews Hut
Photo by Jim Hart 1998
Known as Back Creek Hut and Major Clews Hut
Located at The western side of the park, a few kilometres west of the Geehi Flats area and at Grid Reference 025828. Until recently you could legally drive to this hut, but it is a little remote.
Brief History
This hut was built by Major Clews in the early 1960s as a retirement home and for farming. It once had a substantial flower garden surrounding the house. <He was the principle engineer for the Snowy Scheme.
Nearby, there stood an original cottage, that was only re-discovered in 2001 (as a ruin).
Major Clews extensive story with the military and SMA and is the subject of a book by Noel Gough.
The hut was resumed in 1977 by the National Park Service.
Construction
The house is unique in that it is built of pise or mud brick. There are three rooms above a cement floor and cement and stone fireplace.
The hut needs extensive restoration, and a Conservation Plan was undertaken early in 2002 to achieve this, now completed.
References
Gough, Noel “Mud, sweat & snow: Memories of Snowy workers, 1949-1959” 1994.
Gough, Noel “The Major” Lt. Col. Hugh Powell Gough Clews.
KHA Reference 2402
KNP POM is L.86.