Kosciuszko National Park Post-Bushfire Hut Rebuild | Part 1: Rest House at Sawyers Hill

The Rest House at Sawyers Hill (Sawyers Hut) is the first hut to be rebuilt following the devastating 19/20 bushfires. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is working with support from the Kosciuszko Huts Association, families associated with the huts and volunteers to restore the 11 huts lost in the fires. With over 70 huts spread across Kosciuszko National Park, each with a unique story and construction, the restoration project aims not only to recreate the physical structures but also to keep the social connections and heritage alive. The hut rebuild program is coordinated by project officer Megan Bowden and made physically possible by National Parks builder Roger Rosenboom and Field Officer Peter Dow.

Originally built in 1910, The Rest House at Sawyers Hill was a traveller's rest hut serving as a shelter for travellers, miners, and mail carriers. It's still used as a rest stop today with its convenient location beside the Snowy Mountains Highway. The hut has been rebuilt with features to better protect against future bushfire threats. The heritage and unique construction of the hut is preserved in the rebuild through employing traditional woodworking techniques, ensuring these techniques and traditions are not lost over time.

By recreating these huts with historical accuracy, passing on traditional construction skills, and implementing fire-resistant measures, the project ensures the survival of these structures for future generations. The restored huts not only represent the country's rich history but also serve as a reminder of the resilience and spirit of those who built and used them.

Huts in the rebuild program:
Rest House at Sawyers Hill
Harveys Hut/Tantangara
Vickerys
Delaneys
Four Mile
Happys
Brooks
Bradley/O'Brienns
Fifteen Mile/Linesmans
Round Mountain

For more information on the Huts in Kosciuszko or to get involved with the rebuild, visit the Kosciuszko Huts Association https://khuts.org/index.php

Tom's Outdoors would like to thank:
Megan Bowden for her ongoing support in the making of this series
Roger Rosenboom and Peter Dow
Kosciuszko Huts Association and its members
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Bob Moon, Tumut & District Bushwalkers and all other volunteers

Highly appreciated photo contributions:
Ian Brown and Michelle J Photography
Matthew Higgins and Billie Higgins
Julie Newland and Megan Bowden

Filmed and edited:
Dean Johnson

Tom's Outdoors is a family-owned retail store and guiding service in Tumut, NSW, where we live and breathe what we sell. Our range of considered, enduring and trustworthy gear is tried and tested in the mountains of Kosciuszko National Park and surrounds. We specialise in premium, built-to-last outdoor clothing and equipment for fly fishing, hiking, camping, paddling, trail running, bike packing, skiing and snowshoeing. Furthermore, we offer an exceptional outdoor experience centred around the art and joy of fly fishing. Our skilled guiding team embodies the essence of Tom's Outdoors, providing an inclusive, professional and educational guiding experience. Drift the Tumut River, walk and wade Kosciuszko high country streams or fish the Snowy Mountains lakes.

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