Pugilistic Hut
Photo courtesy KHA Archive - Maintenance crew.
Also known as Pugilistic Creek Hut
Located on Pretty Plain, East of the Dargal Range.
Brief History
The hut was built in 1947 by a Mr Whitehead.
The hut was given the name "Pugilistic" following and altercation
between two stockmen, one of whom was deliberately fueled up on alcohol,
so he would lose the fight (over ownership of some cattle).
KHA holds photographs of the hut from Tom Mitchell's first 4WD crossing
of the Snowies, showing it with vertical slabs in the walls and a hessian
bag for the door. The slabs have since fallen out. The NPWS views this
hut as a "standing ruin" and not to be restored.
Construction
The hut measures about 3m by 4m and was built around four very substantial
poles with vertical slab walls. The floor was of dirt and the fireplace
of stone.
Originally the roof and gables were made of bark, but the former was
replaced with corrugated iron. Noneheless, a welcome shelter in pouring
rain!
References
The KHA reference number is 2311 and the KNP POM schedule is L.106.
No conservation study exists.
