Claytons Cottage
Known as Claytons or Claytons Cottage
Located at Claytons Corner, Bathurst Harbour, South West National Park
History
This hut was built by resident fishers Win and Clyde Clayton. This was their home from 1962 until 1976. They built a jetty for their fishing boat and Win grew a marvellous garden nearby.
Access is primarily by water, and the jetty is still there for small vessels. The building is visited frequently by tour groups. It is alos used by day visitors and for emergency overnight use.
Construction
The hut is built with vertical board cladding, gable-ended, corrugated steel roof, timber floor and a plywood lining.
Much of the fabric of the building was re-used from the Claytons’ previous house which was on the northern side of Port Davey. Materials were transported by boat and the house re-constructed at the present location.
Caretakers -
The hut is maintained by the Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania. Volunteers from Friends of Claytons carried out a major restoration in the early 2000s, including work on foundations, re-roofing and clearing surrounding vegetation.
“Friends of Melaleuca”, Wildcare Tasmania, has taken over that role and works on maintenance annually in collaboration with PWS Tasmania. Friends of Melaleuca has installed displays detailing the history of the cottage.
References
Deny King, King of the Wilderness - Christobel Mattingly 2001.
Harry Watson-Smith - pers comm.
Ian D Ross and the Launceston Walking Club Committee.