The reconstruction of 10 iconic heritage huts in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP), destroyed during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, has been successfully completed. This extensive project reached its conclusion with the rebuilding of Round Mountain Hut, marking a significant milestone in the conservation of KNP’s 60 cultural heritage huts.
PHOTO: NPWS cutting the ribbon on the Linesman Huts – KNP, May 2025 CREDITS: Tom’s Outdoors
Where possible the huts were prefabricated in Tumut then transported and rebuilt on site, including the Linesman Huts which were airlifted into position. The works were challenging due to the huts’ remote locations and difficult weather conditions in the alpine region.
Steve Whan, the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Member for Monaro, highlighted the importance of these efforts. “Like many locals, I have walked to a number of our mountain huts,” he stated.
PHOTO: NPWS staff and local volunteers employed as many historical building techniques as possible, while limiting future maintenance.
“They are a wonderful connection to the history of the cattlemen, prospectors and pioneers who lived in the region. Rebuilding them after the devastation of the Black Summer fires is a testament to the resilience of our community and the value the Minns Labor Government places on our heritage.”
The heritage huts, constructed between the 1870s and the 1990s, have long served as both emergency shelters and historical icons. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) partnered with descendants of original builders and volunteers from the Kosciuszko Huts Association to restore these structures, despite challenging alpine weather and remote locations.
PHOTO: The Linesman Huts were among the many huts destroyed by the 2019-2020 bushfires – February 2020.
Penny Sharpe, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, expressed pride in the collaborative effort. “The Minns Labor Government is dedicated to the conservation of heritage sites within national parks, including these heritage huts,” Sharpe affirmed. “They are not just important places for emergency shelter, but also gems for the high country which have contributed to the rich heritage of NSW.”
Megan Bowden, NPWS Project Officer, described the huts as “living museums,” adding, “Countless hours have gone into meticulously rebuilding these huts, with photos and records being studied to ensure they accurately honour these historic monuments.”
PHOTO: An image of the Linesman Huts prior to being lost in the fires.
Pip Brown, President of the Kosciuszko Huts Association, emphasised the educational aspect, noting how the project has helped preserve traditional construction techniques.
“The rebuilt huts look great and are a credit to the NPWS builders, volunteers from the Kosciuszko Huts Association and others involved,” Ms Brown said.
“The rebuilding program has also trained agency staff and volunteers in traditional construction techniques to enable continuation of heritage building skills, such as splitting slabs with a maul and froe and log cabin construction to help keep these skills alive and maintain these huts for future generations.”
PHOTO: An exposed site along with specially designed skids and a 900kg weight limit combined for a difficult drop by helicopter – Linesman Huts
The high-country huts and homesteads of Kosciuszko National Park are recognised as important NSW heritage structures and are required by law to be conserved. They are also popular tourist attractions. Some are accessible by car, while other require walking or horse riding.
The Minns Labor Government thanks all involved for their support of the huts, including volunteers, descendants of those who originally built of lived in the huts, and local retailer, Tom’s Outdoors.
PHOTO: Rather than driving the material into some sites, a helicopter was preferred and less damaging to the bogs and fragile alpine landscape.
The rebuilt huts are:
- Linesman Huts (two buildings, built 1960s and 1980s)
- Sawyers Resthouse (built 1900s)
- Delanys Hut (built 1910)
- Vickerys Hut (build 1938-39)
- Bradley and O’Brien’s Hut (built 1952)
- Brooks Hut (built 1943)
- Four Mile Hut (built 1937)
- Round Mountain Hut (build 1913, 1953)
- Happys Hut (built 1931)
- Harveys Hut (believed to be built 1960s) (repaired)
PHOTO: The Linesman Huts were originally constructed to house workers maintaining the old power lines that ran from 15 Mile Ridge, to Tooma Dam providing power to the Snowy Hydro electric scheme – old lines in view.