Seamans Hut
Known as Seaman’s Hut, Laurie Seaman Memorial Hut or Seaman’s Memorial Chalet.
Located on the Kosciuszko Summit road, about two thirds of the way to the summit of Kosciusko, above the Snowy River. The Grid Reference is 149652.
Brief History
This hut is famous for saving lives, including in winter of 2022.
It was built in 1929 by the NSW Tourist Bureau, having been financed by the American parents of Laurie Seaman. Seaman with Evan Hayes, perished in a blizzard on 14 August 1928 to the east of this spot.
Seaman was found on 9 September, very near to the current hut site, where he had waited for Hayes. Hayes body was found above Lake Cootapatamba, lying on his skis. That spot is marked by a cairn.
The hut was renovated after a fire in 1938, and has saved the lives of countless people since.
Construction
The hut is 7m by 3m in the interior and consists of two rooms. The walls are massively built of granite stones, and lined with fibro. The floor is wooden and the walls are pierced by small windows. A wood stove is installed, despite a scarcity of firewood. The roof is made of flat iron sheets.
References;
The KHA reference is 2415 and the
KNP Plan of Management (POM) number is L.27.
A Conservation Study and
historical notes exist for this hut.
GPS: S 36.450130 E 148.282772