Last updated 16Dec23
Dunns Hut c1910 site
Dunns Hut c1910 site is on Dunns Flat just north of Bushfold Flats in the Namadgi National Park.
Location: GR 55H FA 83654-66537 (MGA94), Williamsdale 8726-4N 1:25000
Dunns hut c1910 site at Dunns Flat, September 2013
Visits: 16 Dec 23, 31 Aug 19, 18 Aug 18, 14 Sep 13, 12 Jul 11
Documentation:
• KHA Namadgi database (private source). Site 865. The former slab hut was erected between 1903 and 1918. The hut either collapsed or was burnt at some time after 1920. Today the site consists of remnant chimney stones, a few small pieces of timber, and two small dams nearby.
• See NPA Bulletin article here by Matthew Higgins. Here’s what Matthew wrote:
“At the turn of the century, brothers Jack and Bob Dunn, with their sister Annie, owned Tennent Homestead at the northern foot of Mt Tennent. Just beyond the northern end of Bushfold, at a spot which became known as Dunns Flat, they also had a small hut which they used while working on this part of their property, which was at some distance from their homestead. According to Roger Hobbs’ recent conservation plan on Tennent Homestead, the hut was built some time after 1903 but before 1918; Dunns were resumed in.1920. It was slab and had a shingle roof, although there was some iron in the structure too.
Dunns’ Hut either collapsed or was burnt. Today the site is marked by the usual funereal mound of chimney stones. Nearby there are two dams excavated by the brothers; whether they did the job by hand or with horse-scoops is not definitely known, though I suspect the latter, at least in the case of the lower dam which would have been pretty heavy work with pick and shovel. Laurie Tong (whose family had Tennent for some years up to the 1980s) has told me that Dunns actually used to take a horse and cart from the homestead up to the hut—they must have skillfully picked their route around the rough face of the mountain.”
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