Daveys Hut
Encyclopedia
Daveys Hut was built by Tom Bolton in 1909 for grazing. He moved into it with his new wife, Mary, in 1911. However the hut has since become a destination for readers of the book "If I should Wake in the Middle of the Night," by Pauline Downing.
There is extensive information available through the Kosciuszko Huts Association
and National Parks and Wildlife service.
DAVEYS HUT 2507
Pers Comm Dr Peter Honeyman
People Book KH Ossie Bolton
On a rise facing east, with forested hills rising behind, each hill higher in the ramparts towards the Main Range, stands Tom Bolton's simple two-roomed dwelling of milled weatherboard and alpine ash shingles. Tom built the chimney of clay bricks which was undermined by rabbits and later rebuilt by Victor Wallace circa 1930. Tom built the homestead in 1909 for his bride Mary (née Crowe). Ossie Bolton, the eldest son of Tom and Mary states they lived there from 1912 for one year.
Daveys Hut faces toward the Gungarlin River, New South Wales
which forms the boundary of Kosciuszko National Park
. It is the only structure remaining of the seven (or more) huts and homesteads of a community on the southern end of Snowy Plain. This hut is a physical evocation of the past.
Tom, and his brother Harry, worked the Plain for gold in their spare time. Tom managed to save enough to buy the land, to harvest crops and build the small homestead.
He was the mailman for Grey Mare Mine, delivering mail from Sawyers Hill. In winter Tom used the skis he made from alpine ash. He met Mary Eliza Crowe, who was also working for the Post Office and married her in September 1908.
Mary spent only one winter on Snowy Plain before moving to Kiandra
and Adaminaby
. The property was purchased by Les Wallace, who was also a bookie. His gambling debts forced a sale to Davey Williamson in the 1920s, who used it during the summer grazing
. The name Daveys Hut stuck. As the Boltons built many huts in the mountains, another hut named for the Boltons would be very confusing.
After Davey Williamson’s death in 1950, Roy Hedger, who was born on Snowy Plain and is a nearby landholder, purchased the property. It was resumed by the National Park in 1969.
To the south behind the hut is a magnificent set of stockyards, slowly sinking into the ground. Probably the only stockyards in Kosciuszko National Park, apart from the stockyards at Coolamine, of any note. A major restoration is needed.
Above Daveys Hut are the remains of collapsed sheep yards. On the hillock beside the hut is the grave of Ned Hull, a hermit gold miner, marked by an uninscribed natural granite headstone. He lived in a small hut near Back Creek, west of Daveys Hut where he fossicked for gold. Con Bolton found his body in the 1930s. Ned was buried on the rise overlooking Snowy Plain. Murray Napthali read a service at the graveside. Con and his son Jack, over time, moved a granite slab from Ned’s diggings to his grave as a headstone.
North of Daveys on the edge of the plain are the remains of Napthalis (Snowy Plains House). Nearby are the ruined remains of Hedgers, Harvey's, Con Bolton's Hut and the outline of John Bolton's homestead who came to Snowy Plain in 1877. Beside this site is a commemorative plaque erected by the descendants of the Boltons and NPWS. It gives a brief history of the Bolton family.
In 1970 Dr Peter Honeyman passed by Daveys Hut after fishing the Gungarlin River. Birds were roosting on the rafters and cattle were camped on the verandah. Ruination of the hut was imminent.
Following this visit a group of Peter’s fellow doctors regularly visited Daveys, doing repairs and enjoying fishing and walking in the area. Peter's group of caretakers held the hut to a stable condition until KHA and NPWS commenced major repairs.
Pauline Downing (c)8 May 2006
There is extensive information available through the Kosciuszko Huts Association
Kosciuszko Huts Association
The Kosciuszko Huts Association was formed in Canberra, Australia in 1971 with the purpose of saving the mountain heritage huts in the Kosciuszko National Park...
and National Parks and Wildlife service.
DAVEYS HUT 2507
Pers Comm Dr Peter Honeyman
People Book KH Ossie Bolton
On a rise facing east, with forested hills rising behind, each hill higher in the ramparts towards the Main Range, stands Tom Bolton's simple two-roomed dwelling of milled weatherboard and alpine ash shingles. Tom built the chimney of clay bricks which was undermined by rabbits and later rebuilt by Victor Wallace circa 1930. Tom built the homestead in 1909 for his bride Mary (née Crowe). Ossie Bolton, the eldest son of Tom and Mary states they lived there from 1912 for one year.
Daveys Hut faces toward the Gungarlin River, New South Wales
Gungarlin River, New South Wales
Gungarlin River located in New South Wales in the Kosciuszko National Park. The Gungarlin River flows through the Snowy Plains, eventually feeding into the Snowy River and then into Lake Jindabyne, which forms part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme...
which forms the boundary of Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park covers 690,000 hectares and contains mainland Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko for which it is named, and Cabramurra the highest town in Australia...
. It is the only structure remaining of the seven (or more) huts and homesteads of a community on the southern end of Snowy Plain. This hut is a physical evocation of the past.
Tom, and his brother Harry, worked the Plain for gold in their spare time. Tom managed to save enough to buy the land, to harvest crops and build the small homestead.
He was the mailman for Grey Mare Mine, delivering mail from Sawyers Hill. In winter Tom used the skis he made from alpine ash. He met Mary Eliza Crowe, who was also working for the Post Office and married her in September 1908.
Mary spent only one winter on Snowy Plain before moving to Kiandra
Kiandra, New South Wales
Kiandra is an abandoned gold mining town and the birthplace of Australian skiing. The town is situated in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, in the Snowy River Shire inside the Kosciuszko National Park. Its name is a corruption of Aboriginal 'Gianderra' for 'sharp stones for...
and Adaminaby
Adaminaby, New South Wales
Adaminaby is a small town near the Snowy Mountains located north-west of Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, in the Snowy River Shire.The historic town, of about 234 people, is a trout fishing centre and winter sports destination situated at above sea level. It is one of the highest towns in...
. The property was purchased by Les Wallace, who was also a bookie. His gambling debts forced a sale to Davey Williamson in the 1920s, who used it during the summer grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
. The name Daveys Hut stuck. As the Boltons built many huts in the mountains, another hut named for the Boltons would be very confusing.
After Davey Williamson’s death in 1950, Roy Hedger, who was born on Snowy Plain and is a nearby landholder, purchased the property. It was resumed by the National Park in 1969.
To the south behind the hut is a magnificent set of stockyards, slowly sinking into the ground. Probably the only stockyards in Kosciuszko National Park, apart from the stockyards at Coolamine, of any note. A major restoration is needed.
Above Daveys Hut are the remains of collapsed sheep yards. On the hillock beside the hut is the grave of Ned Hull, a hermit gold miner, marked by an uninscribed natural granite headstone. He lived in a small hut near Back Creek, west of Daveys Hut where he fossicked for gold. Con Bolton found his body in the 1930s. Ned was buried on the rise overlooking Snowy Plain. Murray Napthali read a service at the graveside. Con and his son Jack, over time, moved a granite slab from Ned’s diggings to his grave as a headstone.
North of Daveys on the edge of the plain are the remains of Napthalis (Snowy Plains House). Nearby are the ruined remains of Hedgers, Harvey's, Con Bolton's Hut and the outline of John Bolton's homestead who came to Snowy Plain in 1877. Beside this site is a commemorative plaque erected by the descendants of the Boltons and NPWS. It gives a brief history of the Bolton family.
In 1970 Dr Peter Honeyman passed by Daveys Hut after fishing the Gungarlin River. Birds were roosting on the rafters and cattle were camped on the verandah. Ruination of the hut was imminent.
Following this visit a group of Peter’s fellow doctors regularly visited Daveys, doing repairs and enjoying fishing and walking in the area. Peter's group of caretakers held the hut to a stable condition until KHA and NPWS commenced major repairs.
Pauline Downing (c)8 May 2006