Razorback Huts

Extract of report prepared by Graeme Butler & Associates in 2005, titled Victorian Alpine Huts Heritage Survey 2004-2005

Details:

OTHER NAME(S): Purcell's Huts, No 3 Road, Mt Winstanley
LAND TENURE: State Forest
PLACE TYPE: Hut, Alpine grazing
NUMBER OF HUTS: 4
TOPGRAPHICAL MAP (1:25,000): 8123-1-1
AUSTRALIAN MAPPING GRID (AHD 1964): Zone 55: 452263, 5893287
CREATION DATE(S): 1953c-,1983-9c,
BURNT IN 2003 FIRES? No
HERITAGE VALUE 1996 (National, State, Regional, Local, Below threshold, or Not Assessed): Not assessed
HERITAGE VALUE 2004 (National, State, Regional, Local, Below threshold, or Not Assessed): Local (1953 wing)

Statutory Recommendations

Municipal planning scheme protection? Recommended
Victorian Heritage Register? No

Graeme Butler 2004


Historical Background

Historical Associations: Purcell, Jack & Tom Purcell family
Builder: Purcell, Jack & Tom

History:
The Purcell family were pioneers of the Merrijig area in the 19th century, with Jack and his brother Tom, being among the 20th century generation of graziers. Jack served in WW2 and on his return joined others in the district, often led by Edley Stoney, droving cattle in the mountains. In more recent years Jack was among those who rode down Swanston St, Melbourne, to Parliament House in 1984 as a protest against the threatened cessation of high country summer grazing. A generation before, it had been Edley Stoney who had defended local grazing practises in front of the 1946 Royal Commission into grazing leases: his son, Graeme Stoney, had represented the same interests as a local parliamentarian. Jack Purcell was also master of ceremonies in the renowned Merrijig Hunt Club Hotel when the family had the license. He and brother Tom also rode as mountain cattlemen extras in the film, Man from Snowy River, made locally in 1981{ McCormack}. Some fourteen Purcells appeared in the film { J Purcell}.

The Klingsporn hut, incorrectly referred to by Du Cros in 1996 as Purcell's old hut, was in or near the horse yards at the hut complex and is now only a pile of chimney stones { J Purcell}. The Purcells never used this hut but built their own in the 1950s. Jack recalls that 30-40 would attend the muster, some housed in the hut but most in tents around the clearing. The growth of the complex allowed the musterers to be housed indoors { J Purcell}.

Adele McCormack writes that Jack & Tom Purcell built the first stage of this complex, a small hut lined with bunks and a fireplace at one end, as an outstation for alpine summer cattle grazing. An early black and white image of Purcell's main hut shows a gabled and verandahed paling-clad hut that was first stage of this complex, thought by the Purcell family to have been built in c1953 { J Purcell}. Since that image, the verandah has been removed and one side of the gable has been extended to form a new room bay and a large fireplace built at its end. A new verandah has been also added along the gable end and its added bay, the combination forming the kitchen-living area of the complex. Jack Purcell recalls that another disused cattleman's hut was used to build the extension. The Brookes' 1967 Mountain Tramping Club map does not show the hut, with the nearest forestry huts being at Mirimbah, Tomahawk Gap and Clear Hills.

Adele McCormack also writes that `in the early days' Number 3 Road extended only about 3K and did not link with Carters Road, as today. As a result there was a logging camp at the Razorback. From there the Circuit Road provided logging access some 6-7K into the King River catchment or King Fall and the Howqua Road traversed some 10K of the Howqua River catchment from telephone Box Junction { McCormack: 166-}. Huts from the Razorback camp probably made their way to Purcell's Razorback Hilton complex (as the dormitory huts) and further along Number 3 Road as Ivan's or Bus Hut.

In September 1966 the Mansfield District Senior Forester received a request from Mr Terence John Millar of Benalla for permission to occupy two permanent bee farm ranges in the Parish of Mirrimbah. One was to be adjacent to the Circuit road between King Saddle and forest huts located at the start of No3 road, near the old log ramp on the north side of the road. This was evidence of these huts in the 1960s.

In the 1960s, the notorious but quiet future prison escapee, Ronald Ryan, and his wife had a small role in the history of this complex. Residing in one of the nearby timber worker's huts, Ryan and wife were neighbours of the Purcells during the muster. While the men were away rounding up the cattle, Mrs Ryan would redirect the fresh water supply to the Purcell hut complex to instead serve the Ryan residence. When the riders returned they reversed this flow. Mrs Ryan later accosted Jack Purcell in the street and demanded if he was the bastard who had taken her water? Jack had to protest that in fact it was the other way round { J Purcell}. Not long afterwards, Ryan was convicted for armed robbery and sentenced to 9 years prison: he escaped in December 1965, to be captured early 1966 and be hanged among much public controversy February 1967 aged 41.

An image of the hut from 1983 shows the same early gabled form with a gabled corrugated iron clad annexe connected at the rear (hut 3) and another paling gabled hut, detached further to the rear { Coffey}. This hut has since been amalgamated or replaced (by hut 4 room 3,4) with other gabled huts to form the dormitory wing. Log railing around the huts indicates their early use for grazing purposes.

A 1989 image shows the same complex as before but now another higher gabled wing (hut 4, rooms 1&2 or similar) had been added to the south end of the detached hut and a verandah attached to the east side. Another added skillion roof hut is located at the north-west corner of north section, noted in 1996 as a feed shed and dilapidated { Coffey}. these added huts are thought to have been timber workers' huts from the nearby area, Jack Purcell thinks possibly serving Christensen's mill.

A 1996 view shows the old hut with its extended bay on the east (but no northern verandah as today) and the added huts as in 1989. A plan drawn in 1996 has the dormitory huts, located to the west of the main hut, with three bunk rooms and a pole-supported verandah along the east side of the southern two. However a photograph from the same report has this verandah on only the middle room. These two southern rooms had a higher gabled roof line than the northern room: today these rooflines have been amalgamated { Du Cros}.

Construction

Construction summary:
Wall frame: sawn hardwood
Floor: sawn hardwood
Wall cladding: paling, sawn hardwood
Roof cladding: corrugated iron
Condition: Generally fair to good.

The complex of huts is set in a large clearing within native forest, with nearby yards, dam and elevated tank. Vegetation includes alpine ash forest, with `leptospermum sp.' in gully, silver wattle, native pepper, bootlace bush and ferns.

The original or main hut is at the east side of south end of the clearing, with a small corrugated iron clad dormitory hut attached at right-angles to its south-west corner and a rough skillion shower hut adjoining on the south side. West of the main hut is a long four-room dormitory hut amalgamated from other hut components, with a pole framed verandah along the east side and skillion wood store at the south end. Most of the huts have a gabled roof form, sawn hardwood paling wall cladding, sawn hardwood roof and wall frames and corrugated iron roofing.

Hut 1 - Original (Kitchen) hut (6.69m x 7.73m) Formerly hardwood paling clad, gabled roof hut (6.69m x4.7m) with east wall removed and new pole frame in place, to make open plan with extended skillion to east including a large pole-framed corrugated iron clad fireplace on its east side. Pole frame, 100-200mm diam Fireplace single brick lined to part back, pole-framed corrugated iron clad externally. Sliding flush-panel door to west, fixed; sliding main door T&G v-jointed ledged & braced (was painted) hardwood studs 90x50mm at about 600 ccs, varies with section. SS sinks, db bowl and drainer on open frame, hot and cold water supply (boiler in shower annexe) Timber benches wired for power/light sawn softwood T&G gapped flooring 150mm large suspended sign stating `Razorback Hilton Merrijig Black Jack & Turkey Tom Purcell'

Hut 2 Shower hut (c2.5mx3m) corrugated iron skillion form Concrete floor (date scratched 2003), rubber grid matting Pole framed, 100-120mm diam, sawn hardwood girts and rafters Shower recess in north end, corrugated iron lined with exposed external hardwood lining to adjoining main hut

Hut 3 dormitory hut, gabled corrugated iron clad (4.0m x 2.54m), covered link to hut 1 Internal wall lining fibre-cement sheet with hardwood studs 75x40mm at approx 510ccs Batten holder light and switch Softwood T&G floor, holes, settlement at doorway, but no door fixed windows west side, 470mm x 770mm high and north side 560x630mm high

Hut 4 -Dormitory, four rooms: Room 1 (3.66m x 3.1m, south end) Corrugated iron clad externally, Lysaght Orb corrugated iron tank marking on new sheets ledged & braced door softwood v-joint boarding, no latch, shot bolt, chain Ply flooring North wall external wall of room 2 some boards painted, joined hut 40x80mm sawn hardwood studs at approx. 500ccs, ply facing on east side internally window to west side, 2 light fixed hardwood frame 500 x980mm high

Footings chock and log on north part west side, stumps and bearers/joists to south end East side bearers/joists on round section stumps

Room 2 (3.7m x 4.5m) Unlined Roof corrugated iron Lysaght (blue) `Orb galvanised tinned', skylight Studs 50 x70mm sawn hardwood at approx. 500ccs Floor 90mm wide T&G cypress pine or similar groove-jointed T&G softwood board, ledged & braced door, rim lock on inside (Lanes type), string latch window to west side, 2 light fixed hardwood frame 500 x980mm high 160mm sawn hardwood external cladding from door to south east wall hardwood 30x30mm corner bead wired for power/light.

Room 3 (3.6m x3.8m) south part of 3rd stage of dormitory development Door handle carved from snow gum (?) String latch to door Unlined except for south wall (external wall of joined hut), 150mm hardwood, north wall to eaves height as divider only External cladding east wall, sawn hardwood & softwood board mix Window former hung softwood sash, now fixed Batten holder central light, poly vinyl chloride (pvc) switch near door sawn hardwood butt jointed flooring

Room 4 (3.7 x 3.44m) north part of 3rd stage of dormitory development ledged & braced door facing track groove-joint hardwood boards Staple latch to door Rim lock to inside Bracketed corrugated iron hood over door External walls 170x20 sawn softwood boards (wrc?) Three walls unlined, T&G lined south internal wall, painted-south wall to eaves height as divider only Exposed sawn hardwood studs 100x40mm at 600mm ccs, with inside of external lining painted previously (reversed boards) Batten holder central light, pvc switch near door

Elevated tank to south of complex (452225, 5893293), on steel frame Stock/horse dam behind at end of channel (452207, 5893307), grazing area fenced in part. New DSE toilet hut to north east of complex, next to yards.

Significance Assessment

The identified alpine grazing huts are:
Limestone Hut 1880s? 1893 Wallace's Hut 1889c-, 1946c Mitchell's Homestead (ruin) 1900, pre O'Connell's Hut 1900c Miller's Hut 1916, 1987 McNamaras Hut (Dinner Plain) 1917c- Dartmoor Hut 1928 Tawonga Huts (4 huts) 1928? 1940s-50s Howitt Plains Hut 1930s? Blair's Hut 1931-2 Kelly's Hut 1934 Higgins Hut 1934c Treasure's Hut (hut 3) 1939 Madden's Hut 1939c Weston's Hut 1939c Mount Delusion Rd hut & dugout 1939c (hut) Guy's Hut 1940 Commins Hut 1940c Howitville Hut 1940s-? Blairs Top (Bottom) Hut 1943c Treasure's Hut (hut 2) 1945c Jack Parslow's Hut 1946 Moroka Hut 1946 Murphy's Hut 1946 Ryan's Hut 1947c King River Hut 1950-70c? Blackbird Hut 1950s Edmonson's Hut 1953 Razorback Huts 1953c-, 1983-9c, Bluff Hut 1955-6, 1982 Pannican Creek Hut 1957 Wonnangatta Station hut 1957 Lovick's Huts (formerly 2 huts) 1960- Hodgkin's Hut 1960s Middle Mountain Hut 1962 Wire Plain Hut 1962 Faithfull's Hut 1962c Dandongadale Hut 1963-5c Chester's Hut 1920s-30s Kennedy's Hut 1966-7 Wombat P.O. Hut 1969- Pike's Flat Hut 1970s McMichael's Hut 1970s ? Wellington River Hut 1970s? Campbell's Yards Huts (4 huts) 1975- Treasures Shepherd's Plain Hut 1975c Broad Gully Hut 1978c Laverty's Hut 1981 Turner's Hut 1981 Fitzgerald's Hut & Site 1993 Maddison's Huts (2) 1993 (moved)
The first hut of the complex is among the middle group of grazing huts.

Statement of Significance

Preamble:
Alpine grazing (part), alpine tourism and Purcell trail riding connection with the rest: potential for timber worker hut history from relocated huts.

Members of the social value 1997-8 community RFA workshop identified the hut as socially significant to the region. The report, National Estate Identification and Assessment in the North East Region of Victoria (1999), did not list the hut as an indicative National Estate Register place of social value.

Assessed against 1996 report criteria:
Interpretation The main hut (1950s wing) has been changed and reflects this phase of alpine grazing in part only: this is aided by early photographs and oral history.

Age:
The 1950s hut wing is among the middle group of identified grazing hut examples in the alpine area.

Specific Associations with the Place:
The hut has an association with alpine grazing and later the advent of alpine grazing tourism.

Rare or Unique Huts or Fabric:
The construction of the complex is typical among alpine logging and grazing huts.

Huts of Aesthetic or Architectural Interest:
The hut has not been assessed as having any aesthetic or architectural interest

Huts of Technical or Scientific Interest: T
he hut has not been assessed as having any technical or scientific interest

Statement of Significance:
Razorback Hut (1950s part) is locally significant historically and socially:
• For its strong link with alpine grazing as expressed by its location, materials and simple form and link with the pioneering Purcell family (Criterion A)
• For the potential community recognition of the heritage value of its type in the area (Criterion A)

The Pannican Creek Hut complex (1980s parts) is of local interest historically:
• For its link with alpine tourism, as expressed by its location, materials, added sleeping and entertainment accommodation, and simple vernacular form (Criterion A).

Management

Implications for management:
The Statement of significance (1950s wing) implies conservation of the hut's expression of:
• Its strong link with alpine grazing as expressed by its location, materials and simple form and link with the pioneering Purcell family
• The community recognition of the heritage value of its type in the area while emphasising retention and perpetuation of fabric from the place's construction era, the 1950s.

The added tourism wings can be maintained, adapted or removed as required as long as the external expression of 1950s hut wing is clear and no further additions are made to it. Any additions to the complex should use the vernacular of unlined sawn hardwood or pole construction and corrugated iron cladding.

Risk Management

Fire: In a farm location, the hut is separated from obvious fire risks except that caused by its continuing use.
Vandalism: The risk of vandalism is low.
Maintenance: The complex is currently being maintained for a viable use. The current condition of the huts is fair to good.
Environmental factors: none known.
Lack of use: in use
Use, wear and tear: continuing use as existing requires maintenance.
Structural stability: fair.
Incompatible management activity: unknown

General management points include:
• Reduction of fire risk through removal of rubbish and flammable items around the hut and maintaining a water supply for fire fighting, plus continuing repair of chimneys and fireplaces, and their junctions with roofing material, to prevent sparking.
• Grade surface drainage away from hut and restrict build-up of soil or undergrowth next to walls.
• General repairs including matching replacement of corrugated iron roofing, wall cladding, flooring and frames, as required.
• Consult any long-term users, acknowledged caretakers, or persons associated with the hut (see above ) over general management decisions.
• Keeping an archival record of change to the complex.

References

1. Klaus Hueneke 2003: 242
2. Dianne Carroll Review 2004
3. John Coffey, 2004, Mansfield ( Coffey J A -5 Davies St Mansfield 3722 (03) 5775 1851 ), images 1980s
4. du Cros & Associates, Archaeological and Heritage Consultants in Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd 1996. Mount Stirling Environment Effects Statement TECHNICAL APPENDICES VOLUME 1 for Department of Infrastructure Office of Planning arid Heritage May 1996, including Philippa Watt Bluestone Historical Consultancy February 1995. Mt Stirling Historical Background Report.
5. Jack Purcell, 2004, Mansfield, source- (57775534), known as `Rinso' in the army. Recalls Ryan, and hut construction.
6. McCormack, Adele 2004. `About Merrijig' : 134-
7. Brookes 1967 (Victorian Mountain Tramping Club) Map of the watersheds of the King, Howqua & Jamieson Rivers.
8. VPRO Parish of Mirimbah VPRS 11563/P/1, Unit number 853, File Number: 66/2138 bee licence.

Public recognition and social value

The following published extracts indicate the views of well known alpine hut enthusiasts such as Klaus Hueneke and Fiona Magnussen, hut societies such as the Victorian High Country Huts Association (VHCA) and Kosciuszko Huts Association (KHA) and others, such as respondents in the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) Social value Workshops conducted to assess forest heritage values in the 1990s. These views can provide insight into the history of the huts but more importantly the value these individuals or groups hold for them.

Cited specifically as of social value by members of the community in the 1997­1998 Regional Forest Agreement social value workshop databases (Gippsland and North-east regions) conducted by Context P/L.(see Context MS Access database, copy held).

`Cattle runs are usually defined with geographic boundaries (eg. cliff face). The cattle that are running on them are descended from the original cattle. each cattle run has a mustering hut with home paddock. The stock routes now also used as walking tracks will at certain times of the year see people droving cattle.' (Mansfield Workshop, Chris Stoney; Sue Silvers, Sec. Mountain Cattleman's Assoc., High St. Mansfield); Jack Purcell (Merrijig)

`Razor Back Hut is a log cabin built in the early 1930s. Still in very good condition. Used by commercial tour operators, scout groups, cross country skiers as a (etc) refuge.' (Mansfield Workshop)

`People at the community workshops valued this place for its: (A) still living history today; cattlemen's hut (B) endangered with land use issues (F) reflects on how our pioneers opened up Australia (G) not only local community's identity but all Australians.'

Also, a generic value for alpine huts was expressed for the north-east region: `All huts in National Parks and State Forests. Tangible evidence of first settling families. (Mount Beauty Workshop) Huts provided shelter and a destination. Cultural links to the cattle industry. (Wodonga Workshop)'. This was not expressed at the Mansfield workshop.

The report National Estate Identification and Assessment in the North East Region of Victoria (NERFAP 1999) did not list the site as an indicative place with social value.

Mt Stirling Huts: Widely valued? not stated.
`At least two huts still standing. Exact location unknown.' (Bright Workshop, A Mason: Ivan Carlson's logging hut; Howqua Gap logging hut; possibly Razorback hut? Also recent ARC huts) `People at the community workshops valued this place for its: not stated.'

Du Cros 1996:
`The site is a hut complex and horse corral combining to make a stock camp which was also used as a logging camp and log loading area. Fallen trees stumps and a log loading ramp located in the vicinity are clear evidence of the logging history in this area. The complex lies nestled at the eastern side of the base of the Razorback Spur with the bulk of the clearing and the horse corral located to the east (Figures 6 and 10; Appendix 4).

In conversation with Jack Purcell he mentioned that there was a previous incarnation of Purcell's Hut that was the original grazing hut. The way Jack Purcell (pers. comm.) described it, the original Purcell's Hut was located to the west of the present huts' site. When questioned as to whether or not it would be possible to identify the site of the old Purcell's Hut, Jack Purcell commented that "all one would find would be some maiden hair fern and a few rocks". A provisional inspection of the area by the consultant failed to locate where the hut once was. Should development of this area be undertaken in the future, a visit to identify the location with Jack Purcell or similar knowledgeable person would need to be undertaken.

The present hut complex has been through a series of development phases including some in the past few years (Jack Purcell pers. comm.). The main hut (the 'Razorback Hilton' see Appendix 2) with the fire places has been restumped, although parts of this hut are of considerable age, the walls carry graffiti that dates back to the 1950s. Several of the huts are timber construction and were once logging huts, similar to Howqua Gap Hut. These huts were relocated to this site by the Purcells and modified to their present state, including the addition of a verandah and internal bunks (Figure 14; Plate 9).

The smaller huts in the complex are used as bunk rooms (Figures 13 and 14). There is also a small lean to attached to the west wall of the main hut. It has been adapted as a shower room and is equipped with a boiler, hot water tank, shower and basin. An additional hut to the north of the other huts is used as a feed shed (Figure 14). This hut is in a dilapidated condition but still appears to serve the purpose.

Modern public pit toilets have been constructed adjacent to the northern edge of the large horse corral and are enclosed by a post and rail fence (Figure 10; Plate 10). The horse corral is large, contains numerous trees and is fenced with a post and rail fence. Water is provided via a hose that is used to fill up two bath tubs located at the southern end of the corral.

To the west of the buildings, by some 20m, is a water tank and tank stand (Figures 10 and 11). The tank stand provides enough elevation to give good water pressure for the hut complex. The water supply comes from a small dam that is fenced from the cattle and located about 250m further to the west stone axe and a few isolated artefacts associated with a restricted area of surface exposure were also located within the general hut complex area. These are discussed elsewhere in this report along with the other Aboriginal archaeological sites identified (AAV 8123/0024; Section 3.4.1).

Razorback Hut/Purcell's Hut Complex (H 8123/13) is assessed as being of high local historical (and possibly regional historical) significance and of moderate to high scientific significance. This assessment is based on the long standing and on going association that the Purcell family has with the site and the fact that the site continues to be used as a stock camp for four to six weeks each year. The site is important as it remains one of, if not the last stock camp/hut complex, to be used in association with the grazing of cattle in alpine areas.

Should future development of the Mt Stirling study area restrict the practice of grazing cattle in the alpine areas it is probable that this will increase the significance of the site…
`The site is considered to be of high local (and possibly regional) historical significance and moderate to high scientific significance. Because of these values, along with current tourist visitation to the site and its on going use by the Purcell family, a plan of management ('Conservation Plan') should be developed and implemented for the site. In the short term no developments should be planned for the immediate vicinity of this site that will visually and/or structurally alter the site. In addition the Razorback/Purcell's Hut Complex should be considered for nomination to the Register of the National Estate, Australian Heritage Commission.'

Klaus Hueneke 2003: 242 `Razorback Hut (Map Buller Stirling 1:25,000 452373 5893456) A small village of weatherboard and iron huts in a secluded clearing amongst tall timbers off the Mt Stirling circuit road. Also known as Purcells. Main hut has a fireplace, sink, many chairs and some tables. Rooms in the other huts have 46 bunks. Built in 1950s and added to over the years. Water from a dam. Modern toilet block.' Klaus Hueneke 2003: 91

Dianne Carroll Review 2004 `The original hut was built in 1953, It has since been extended, such that there are bunks for more than 40 people now, across a number of different buildings. There are now three large huts, two sheds and yards.'

Kosciuszko Huts Association (KHA) website 2004: `The original hut was built in 1953 and is shown in John Mitchell's excellent photograph below. It has since been extended, such that there are bunks for more than 40 people now, across a number of different buildings. There are now three large huts, two sheds and yards.'


Courtesy Graeme Butler & Associates in 2005, Victorian Alpine Huts Heritage Survey 2004-2005