Lovick's Hut - disturbing news, anyone else heard anything?

We have just returned and found this to be true however the research we carried out was that it has been dismantled to discourage 4wd but I must express it is a RUMOUR.
Very dissapointing.
Go and visit Moroka hut. What a top spot however you cant camp but it is a great lunch spot.

You have to be kidding.

If you tried to knock down a building with that much heritage attached to it and as old as it was in Collins St or any other built up area you'd have people chained to it and as more objections lodged than a team of beauracrats could handle in a year.

If this really is the case then it stinks of something most foul.

We were up there in late April and Lovick's were still mustering and chasing strays. What ever your views on cattle on the high plains and I'm not a fan, the huts have a heritage value far beyond that of many other heritage listed buildings. There are many cases where 4wd clubs and bushwalking groups have taken over maintenance to ensure their future. Who was consulted over this?

How many other huts aren't heritage listed and where do we apply to get them listed if they aren't?

Christ look at the outcry when they talked about dismantling Craig's Hut and it was only a movie prop with no cultural significance, it probably has some credibility now given the success of the movie but it's still just a prop. There was a huge debate about it being left there and the damage 4wd's were doing.

Imagine if they decided now that they no longer wanted to have 4wds up there and it disappeared before next weekend!

If they can do one they can do more....

Dave

I have numerous photos of it from Nov I did 2 trips, and 1 in May.. check my site www.gqpatrol.com

I agree - wonder how many other huts will go.
I do admit there are a few that are REALLY REALLY bad.. one of them (cant think the name) the main beam of the structure is broken in 2, and is less than head height at the moment... They need repair

Okay, a few phone calls and I thought I'd either start rattling cages or fighting fires.

Before this tendril of smoke becomes a 50 response raging bushfire I'll post some factual info.

When I was up there in April there were acro props holding up a section of the roof.

Lovick's have had a report done on the state of the hut which the family still use for horse trail ride accommodation and when they are mustering. The report rated it as structurally unsound and recommended reconstruction rather than repair.

Many of the huts up in the Victorian High Country have been through several incarnations as a result of fire, partial collapses or other damage.

Lovick's applied to the department and after a trip all the way to the secretary of the Department of Sustainability and Environmnet the relevant pieces of paper got the rubber stamp.

In the next month or so a new hut will be constructed utilising as much of the existing huts material as is possible. The new hut will be a little smaller with a steeper roof pitch to take the heavy snow loads of winter, something no doubt responsible for the state of the roof beams on the old hut.

Once constructed Charlie has had discussions with Parks regarding some post and rail fencing similar to that at Bluff Hut to better organise the vehicle parking around the hut.

The representative at Parks Vic Mansfield responsible for the huts in that area stated that 4wd access to the area was not an issue and that public access would be maintained. The decision was made purely on upkeep, maintenance and safety grounds by the Lovick's in consultation with Parks Vic/DSE.

I have suggested that they post something on www.parkweb.vic.gov.au as there was no information whatsoever on this issue to be found. Apparently the High Country Huts Assoc. and the VAFWDC were notified but I haven't checked their sites.

I'm glad I have photos of the old hut as it is now a piece of history.

Good news - for a change...

Dave

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Crack a can and shed a tear or two if you have to.

It's gone. All gone....

But it will be back!

ExploreOz members trip to christen it I reckon....

Dave