Mount Mawson Shelters
Known as Mt Mawson Shelter Hut, previously Sitzmark Lodge.
Located near the summit of Mt Mawson, Mt Field National Park and about 40 minutes walk uphill from the Lake Dobson carpark. The huts are at the foot of the two rope ski tows.
History
Skiing has been a popular sport in Tasmania for many decades, but the developement of the first rope tow in about 1961, brought this area to the forefront of skiers’ minds in Tasmania. At the base of the ski tows, a hut was built called Sitzmark Lodge (shown below), and this housed ski hire, the mountain rescue team and a public shelter area. Sitzmark was run by the effervescent Larry Pallinger, who was also the first ski instructor on the mountain. Other club lodges such as Oldina Lodge, were also built below Sitzmark. The weather can become fierce here.
In 1964 there was an exceptional snow season followed by another in 1968, that resulted in a second lift being built and later a third at Mt Rodway. At the time, the lifts were “club lifts” run by the STSA (Southern Tasmania Ski Association) and a full day, full price ticket was just $2 (compared to $35 per day, in 2021).
In 1998 Sitzmark Lodge was condemed by the Tasmanian Government, but continued to operate through to the 2012 season. Around this time, it was demolished and the new huts (Designed by BPSM Pty Ltd) were built, as shown in the photograph to the left.
References
Southern Tasmanian Ski Association.
Sitzmark Lodge as it used to be. The hut on the right and behind, is the tow hut.