Witzes Hut
Photo copyright Olaf Moon © 2003.
Known as Witz Hut, Witzs Hut, Witzes Hut, Whites Hut or Tantangara Hut, it is one of a number of slab cottages and huts previously at this location.
Location
Located on the plains between Tantangara Dam and Gooandra Homestead. It shows on the Tantangara map at GR 430 356. It is accessible by a 7 km walk from Tantangara Dam, from the Snowy Mountains Highway, or from Hains Hut or Gooandra Hut.
Brief History
Witzes was built in 1952 by Clarrie Butler using the remains of a nearby 1880s homestead. The original homestead was still standing in the 1960s and was very large, with four rooms and a hall.
It formed an outstation for Gooandra Station and supported their grazing activities.
It underwent major restoration in the late 1980s, with further work by the caretakers and KHA members in December 2003.
Construction
Witzes is an excellent example of a vertical slab hut and is renowned for its very long adzed slabs. It measures 6 m long by only 3 m wide.
It has a single window and a stone hearth, with an iron-clad chimney. There is a well-raised wooden floor and gable roof. An NPWS dunny sits up the hill, just above the old water race.
Careful observers will note that some slabs have newspaper remains on both sides. These came from the internal walls of the old house and date from 1892.
Caretakers – Wagga Wilderness Walkers.
References
Hueneke, pp. 227, 231.
KHA reference: 1305.
KNP POM: L.13.
A conservation study and history notes are available.