Another vestigial site, this place was valued at 35 pounds in 1883 when surveyed for Alexander Brayshaw. An archaeological survey reported evidence of a vegetable garden at this site. (Source: KHA database)

"ALEXANDER BRAYSHAW'S HUT AND GARDEN Located at grid reference: 677879 East, 6031830 North Alexander (Alex) was renowned for his skill with his bullock team. He won the best working bullock team at the Cooma show quite a few years in a row. He died one week after his daughter Vida from Scarlet Fever. This happened on 23 February of 1919, Sixth son ninth child. He had two sites this one and one further up the valley. (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper).

The Bog Hut

From about 1955 to 1991, the hut was not visited, and was "re-discovered" as a result of the oral history project and interviews undertaken by Matthew Higgins in 1990. When first revisited about 1998, the hut contained all the furniture and items used by cattlemen in the 50's, including a foldout chair or bed, cooking utensils, lanterns, alarm clock etc, all of which have been carefully documented and most removed for safe keeping. KHA decided to include this hut on the website, as it is already publicised in other places on the internet. It was revisited immediately after the fires, to check its condition. Construction - The Banks hut is a simple building of corrugated iron over bush poles, with a flat roof. Caretakers - KHA References - Namadgi Sites by Matthew Higgins 1994, P 16. Murray Dow's Website. (Source KHA). See here for KHA Entry. See here for entry in ACT Heritage Register.

here

Alternatively, "This old building of corrugated iron and wood was originally transported from Yarralumla in 1946 and used by the workers who tended the nearby arboretum. In 1966 it was renovated by the Uriarra foresters." (Source Beyond the Cotter by Allan J Mortlock and Klaus Hueneke, ANU Press Canberra 1979)

The original homestead was built in the 1840's and was replaced in the latter part of last century. It was pulled down in 1971. The chimney still stands, a sentinel to a bygone pastoral era. (1) See here and here for further history. (Source: Jenny H Canberra Bushwalking Club it Aug 2004, pp 4-5)

This was the second building on the site, but was demolished by the Parks service in 1971, as it was considered to be unsafe. Today, it would be fully restored. The first building was owned by James Ritchie and John Gray, when they held the leases from the late 1830s. John Gray sold the holding to his manager, Charles McKeahnie in 1844 after Gray went bankrupt. McKeahnie soon sold his sharee (the other being to Alexander Crawford) to William Brayshaw soon after Brayshaw's marriage to Crawford's daughter, Flora. So, the Crawfords and Braywshaws jointly ran the Bobeyan Valley for many years, though the Crawfords soon moved up the valley to the Old Station. The last Brayshaw to live here full time, was Richard, born in 1865. He sold the property to Noel and Greg Luton in 1952. This building was built in the late 1800's and had a separate kitchen and living areas from the bedroom wings. Unmarked graves are nearby. (Source: KHA). See here for KHA entry.
There are associated sites in the immediate vicinity including an original cottage site, dam, spring, orchard, stockyard site and cultivation paddock and (unsighted by me) chicken coops and 4 sheds.

"Located at grid reference: 678648 East, 6031255 North Richard was the last of the immediate Brayshaw family to live in the homestead. Richard left Bobeyan in 1952. He died on the 11 Jan 1954, eight son thirteenth child. William & Flora raised 14 children in this homestead and the old one. Sarah their 10th child died (from diphtheria) on the 11th Jun 1865 and is buried over the hill just up from the orchard. She was only 8 years old. The original home was built sometime between 1839 and 1844, the new was built sometime before 1866." (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper)

"OLD ROAD WHERE DRAY TIPPED OVER KILLING MOTHER & CHILD Located between grid reference: 675960 East, 6031132 North & 675205 East, 6031463 North Road has formed banks out of bush rock very interesting to look at. Not known exactly who they are but a mother and child were killed, buried at Bobeyan near where Sarah is buried." (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper)

"Just doing a little research and have found a Coroners' inquest into the death of a mother and child who died on the 23rd June 1850, the inquiry was at Queanbeyan and related to a Mary & Mary Ann Westerman, clutching at straws here but these 2 could be the Mother and Child buried at Bobeyan along with Sarah. Without getting the whole inquest from the State Archives of NSW, it still will remain a bit of a mystery. Oh by the way the coroner found death by accident" (Source: email from Steve Brayshaw 24/5/11).

This is the at the start of the Nursery Swamp Walking Track and continues along the taped footpad to Rendezvous Creek.

Located to the south of Mt Clear at GR840263 on the Bredbo map. A large chimney is all that remains. History This holding was originally surveyed in 1889 as a conditional purchase by Edward Brayshaw, the fourth son of William and Flora Brayshaw. Edwards wife Mary, was from the Chalker family, but the site was forfeit in 1892. Henry Barrett acquired the site in 1908, but the history between is unclear. The Chalkers may have owned the site after this. Construction The chimney is made from heavy granite blocks. See here for KHA entry.
Chimney of granodiorite, mud-mortared, with cement overlay on external joints; stone edged soil platform (stone flagging may be concealed). Portion selected as a Conditional Purchase (without prior improvement) by Edward Brayshaw in 1889. (W-G T)

In August 1931 David met a tragic end while riding home from nearby 'Bobeyan' where his brother lived. He left after lunch but didn't arrive home that evening. Two days later his riderless horse was found with David's body lying nearby. Stirrup irons were still on his feet and his hat and whip were on the ground nearby. He had died from exposure. Today the place is marked by a small pile of white rocks. David was 79 years of age. (Signage at Brayshaw's Hut)

"DAVID BRAYSHAW'S CAIRN Located at grid reference: 679452 East, 6030943 North Jim Westerman placed the rocks where they are, under instructions from Morris Luton. Mary Jane Westerman, his sister in law collected the rocks. Davey left his brother Richard in the afternoon after having lunch with him, as he always did once a week. Just down from Bobeyan he was thrown from his horse and died from exposure. He died on 31 August 1931, Fourth son sixth child." (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper)

The remains of this hut consist of remnant chimney stones and a fallen, squared post; suckering fruit trees stand nearby. The hut was not shown in the 1908 survey of the block... (Source: KHA NNP database)

EDWARD BRAYSHAW 1 Located at grid reference: 676321 East, 6033918 North Surveyed on 8th April 1885. Still evidence of an orchard. (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper)

Orroral Camping Ground. A pylon base and hawser anchors remain. What was it used for?

here

here

ACT FORESTS HUTS The small Forestry Hut was built in 1966 for the planting of the Boboyan Pine Forest and was used by the forestry gang at lunch and other times for shelter. The larger building was constructed at the same time as a machinery shed to house the bulldozer. These huts are conserved for their heritage values and may be used as a temporary shelter. W ask that visitors abide by the Huts Code, respect other Park users and take care of this special environment. (Signage in the Hut)

Grove of quince trees in a vale 300m south of road. Valued at £20 (with garden) for James Brayshaw in 1882. The extent of the cultivation paddock cannot be determined as it has become a marsh.

"James Brayshaw was the twelfth of the children born to William and Flora Brayshaw. The hut was valued at 20 pounds when the block was surveyed in 1882. The foundation stones remain today, lying under overgrown quince trees." (KHA datbase)

"JAMES BRAYSHAW'S HUT Located at grid reference: 679389 East, 6030138 North James left the area in 1906 to a place in Victoria called Koo Wee Rup. He came back to Bobeyan just before he died. He and his brother Richard, at the time the only 2 surviving children of William & Flora. They got together and apparently were like two school kids (they had not seen each other for about 20 years) anyway no sooner they had got together they had had enough of each other and parted. James went back to Victoria the next day. (From Auburn Brayshaw, Morris Luton) He died on 23 October 1951, Seventh son twelfth child." (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper)

"This Crutching Shed was built by Noel Luton, Alan Robinson and Herb Dybal in the mid 1960s. The fork-style log fence was built by the Crawfords in the 1800s. Alterations for re-use have occurred to both structures over time. The Crutching Shed is the only structure of its type in Namadgi National Park and may be the only purpose built crutching shed in the Alps National Parks. The fork-style stockyards are significant for representing a type of vernacular fencing no longer used." (Signage at Lutons Crutching Shed)

"Shed and adjacent yards built by Noel Luton and others in the mid to late 1960s. The shed was extended in the early 1970s. It is the only purpose built crutching shed in either Namadgi or Kosciusko N.P. and is one of only three surviving pastural buildi..." (KHA database)

"Valued at £21 when surveyed for Edward Crawford in 1883... The complex has been extensively reconstructed; the shearing shed is recent (still shiny!) and is currently maintained." (W-G B9)

See here for KHA entry.

29 Jan 09*

BR4

-

29 Jan 09*

BR5

284

25 Jul 09*

-

30 Apr 11
12 Apr 11
2 May 10*

This hut was specifically built for skiing and was the oldest club-built ski lodge on mainland Australia (older lodges exist in Tasmania). It was built in the summer of 1937-38 for the Canberra Alpine Club. A large kitchen and living area is downstairs and bunk rooms upstairs. A toilet was built in nearby NWS, to satisfy the Cotter catchment regulations, so the hut is very close to the border. The hut was upgraded in the 1950s, with internal lining of baltic pine. The present kitchen stove came from the Prime Minister's Lodge. The doors to the stove were stolen within days of the lodge being burnt down. Ski runs were also cleared nearby, but have now largely overgrown. See here for KHA entry.

UC2

here

here

The hut was built as Alpine Botanic Hut in the early 1950's. As the sign on the door indicates, it was built for personnel tending the alpine annexe of the National Botanic Gardens. This was established in the Mt Gingera area under the supervision of Lindsay Pryor, the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens. A coastal annexe was established at Jervis Bay.
In the late 1950's, Pryor was appointed Professor of Botany at Canberra University College (later ANU). Emphasis was then placed on the development of the present Gardens site at Black Mountain and the coastal annexe. The alpine annexe fell into disuse. The only traces of it now are this hut, remains of the old horse paddock nearby and some plant markers made of huon pine on a metal stand.
The pines below the hut were planted in the 1950s by members of the Snowy Mountains Authority Landscape Section. They are Scotts Pine (Pinus silvestris).
The hut became known as Pryors Hut in recognition of Professor Pryor's contribution to the development of the Botanic Gardens, the study of and horticultural development of native plant species, the landscape development of Canberra and the evolution of the Australian forestry school and industry. (Signage at hut)

Hut belonging to Richard Brayshaw. Verified from Survey portions by Steve Brayshaw. Surveyed on 22nd October 1883. (Source: KHA NNP database)

On the edge of the current management track. Almost damaged by dozer in recovery work after 2003 bushfires" (Source: Steve Brayshaw's paper)

Jenny H was kind enough to offer - Seeing Sam Aboud's dunny recalled a picture in Daphne Curtis's book about Namadgi. This is what she says: "when the Maguires sold Long Flat to Sam Aboud about 1970, we missed them coming to Mt Clear. Sam put a hut on the property and an open air septic toilet with no floor or walls: just the septic bowl on the rock". She has the picture of the toilet in her book.

The original lease was held by Jack Maquire and known as Long Flat. Sam bought the holdings in the 1960s and built a home similar in size and shape to a double garage. Other stones on the site are from the chimney of the home of Edward and Mary Brayshaw. She was originally a Chalker and one of her sons, Ted was born here in 1899. A survey of the block of this date does not show the house, so it must have post dated that. See here for KHA entry.

I had incorrectly believed that Sam built this flushing loo to entice his wife to come out to his block. In Oct 13 Keith J, ex-ANU, contacted me off this blog after seeing a photo of Sam's dunny. Through Keith, I was able to ring Sam and have a chat. He held this block and another across the border in NSW in the early 1970s and built the outside dunny with no walls becasue he liked a loo with a view. (JE 31Oct 13)

See page 38 of Graeme Barrow's Namadgi & Tidbinbilla Classics: Tough Bushwalks in Canberra's High Country: "(...walk westwards through scrub for a short distance at Stockyard Gap to reach what's left of a hut (605645) built in 1948 by a group of Mt Franklin skiers; scraps of bush and sawn timber and metal ridge-capping are all that's left.)"

Built in 1948. Still standing in 1970s, the hut has now collapsed. Fallen timbers and the ridge-capping mark the site. (Source: KHA Namadgi database)

Now gone, this hut could possibly have been the home of the Woodfield family who lived in this area. The hut possibly was built after 1882 as it was not shown on the survey of that year. (Source: KHA database)

"Site marked by briar roses immediately adjacent west side of old Gudgenby road about 1km north of Naas ford." (W-G B12)

Marked on 1st edn Yaouk 1:25000 topo map

"Yards as shown on CMA Yaouk 1:25 000." (Source: KHA datadase) There are, indeed, yards marked onthe 1st edn Yaouk map, but on the E side of the Old Boboyan Road. They are at UTM 55H 676985-6033697 (MGA94). Are these the same as W-G B14 at GR771338 (likely ADG66), which puts them on the Old Boboyan Rd around 500m N of the map marked spot?The sketch for B14 has the yards on the E side of the Old Boboyen Rd. I'd say yes.

On W edge of Camel Back fire trail, just N of Cascades Trail intersection.

The loud speaker is a fire and/or disaster warning siren. Not sure if it works. (Source: Steve Welch, pers com 19/10/10)

KHA have ref Boot & Bulbeck (1991) pp.105,106

(Source: TNR Draft Management Plan 1997 )

In Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Restored and reopened 13 Apr 08.

KHA have ref Boot & Bulbeck (1991) pp.78,83

here

"The hut itself was used as a forestry camp in the early 1930s and in the later 1940s for immigrants." (Source:  Beyond the Cotter)

Just below the slope leading to the border fence are the remains of an orchard, stone footings and fence posts. These are the remnants of ‘Dugarvon’, a small homestead, owned by Walter Ginn who farmed the area. (See here on page 2)

-

18 Nov 08
26 Aug 08*

-

15 Jul 08
11 Dec 07*

-

22 Oct 13
23 Mar 13
28 Dec 10
13 Apr 10*

See High Country Huts for a list of KNP Huts visited