Charles King Memorial Hut
Known as Charles King Memorial Hut or King Memorial Hut
Location at Melaleuca near the Rangers’ Quarters and Melaleuca Lagoon, Port Davey, South West National Park.
History
Charles King’s son Deny built this hut in 1959-’60 with help from the Hobart Walking Club.
Charles and Deny King were local tin miners. Charles King, known by bushwalkers for his hospitality in this remote area, died in 1955. His son, Deny King, built this hut for the use of bushwalkers, in memory of his father. There is a display inside the hut detailing its history, produced by Friends of Melaleuca, a branch of Wildcare Tasmania.
It is now used as a bushwalkers shelter, sometimes for private tours.
Construction
This hut is built in the Nissen style with pre-rolled corrugated iron over a timber frame, including curved bush poles as arched frames. It has a plywood lining and timber floor.
Feature stones for the central fireplace were collected by boat from nearby Bathurst Harbour. The fireplace is on a concrete base. from a nissen hut curved corrugated iron, with a concrete floor and fireplace.
Caretakers - It is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania assisted by volunteer caretakers engaged by PWS each summer. “Friends of Melaleuca”, a branch of the volunteer organisation Wildcare Tasmania also helps with maintenance, including re-roofing the hut in 2011.
References
Deny King, King of the Wilderness - Christobel Mattingly 2001.
Harry Watson-Smith - pers comm.
Ian D Ross and the Launceston Walking Club Committee.