b'Dec 2021 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 128/11/20215:38 pmPage 15 Club SpotlightVictorian High CountryHuts TripLake Cobbler Hut and convoyIn the past couple of years Andy and King River Hut; Also known as Clubs. King Hut was opened Januarymyself have been invited by the "King Hut"was originally built as a 2012.Wagga Wagga 4WD club in NSW to slab hut and cattle yards in the early Razorback Huts; also known aslead trips through the Victorian High 1900s to 1920s by Jim Hearn about Razorback Hilton or Purcell\'s Hut, isCountry for them. This years trip was 20m north of its current location. By 1365m above sea level and is stillto visit as many huts as we could in a the 1940s, this hut was needing some used to this day by the Purcell familyweekend around Mt Buller. The TLC and by the mid-1950s a new at cattle muster time on Mt Stirling.information that follows is a brief larger two roomed hut of weather- The Purcell family were pioneers ofhistory on each of the huts they board was built by some cattlemen to the Merrijig area in the 19th century.planned to visit; we printed it out for replace this dilapidated slab hut. The first part of this hut was built ineveryone on the trip so they could George Robinson built the weather- 1953 by Jack and Tom Purcell andtake it home with them. board hut for Fred Ross and other over the years it was extended andLake Cobbler Hut; The original hut cattlemen in 1957. The two huts stood added to. As it stands today it willat Lake Cobbler was built in the early side by side for quite a few years sleep up to 40 people in bunks and is1900s as part of the Lovick grazing (there is a photo dated 1964 with both used often by many groups whenlicence, followed by another built by huts in it). camping and riding in the area. ASam Christopher and Frank Gorman The CFA 4X4 Club looked after the large horse corral is adjacent to thewho had the Cobbler grazing licence hut and helped organise working hut and you will also find dropfrom 1929 to the 1940s.The original bees prior to 2008 to keep it main- dunnies have been constructed nearhut was a log hut with a bark roof, the tained and repaired. Unfortunately, thecamping area. The huts weresecond was built of timber palings, the hut was burnt to the ground by refurbished in 2007/2008 by DSE withand both with gabled roofs. Both of careless users in 2008 and King River new fireplaces and chimneys, andthe old huts stood beside each other Hut had to be rebuilt again on the other work was later done repairingat the same time for quite a while in same footprint. The rebuild was two walls by VHCHA volunteers.use for grazing and recreation. years in planning by a co-operative Howqua Gap Huts; The HowquaA 3rd hut (maybe a forestry hut) may effort between the Huts Association Gap huts consist of 2 huts, one is aalso have been here on the lake in the and Parks Victoria. Over Easter 2011 1960s small portable hut (5x3m) that70s and a 4th hut in the early 80s about 14 volunteers and Parks was brought to the logging campsitewhich was a log hut and very similar Victoria rangers largely completed the complete on the back of a truck andto the present hut. rebuild. still sits on two skid logs to this day.The present Lake Cobbler Hut (the The new hut is completely insulated Its a weatherboard hut, with an iron5th hut recorded at this site) was built and occupies the exact footprint of roof and wooden floor and a brickin July 1988 by the Wangaratta 4WD the old hut, a combined effort by fireplace and iron chimney that wasClub and they have helped to Parks Victoria, the Victorian High presumably added to the hut after itmaintain this hut for public use ever Country Huts Association (VHCHA), was transported here. since. Mansfield Shire Council and 4WDTRACKWATCH DECEMBER 2021 13'