Dr Pearsons Hut
Reed's Hut at Bushfold
Known as Reads Hut, Bushfold Hut or Dr Pearson’s Hut.
There is much debate over the correct naming of this hut. "Reads" is generally considered the historically correct name, but local farmers and personalities more commonly refer to it as "Dr Pearsons". Bushwalkers tend to call it Bushfold! This photograph was taken during the Great Australian Bushwalk in 2006, with 40 walkers present. The hut is in good shape but needs a log book.
Located in the newer part of Namadgi, at the southern end of the Bushfold Flat, behind Mt Tennent. Drive past Tharwa, then turn right up Appollo Road. The walking track goes off a corner and down a steep track to the river, and climbs up to this hut. The second hut a little further along the Bushfold valley is, also referred to as McMahons (most commmonly) or Reads or Bushfold sat at the northern end of Bushfold Valley.
History
Bushfold sections 110, 111, 112 and 113 were first selected in the 1880s by members of the McKeahnie Family, who held Booroomba Station nearby. The original hut was built in 1884 and sat at GR834648 where only stones remain today. McKeahnies later built a tin hut at 830647 but stones from the chimney have not been re-located since the 1970s.
After 1902, Martin and Tom McMahon took up some sections and Martin built a slab hut at 835654. There blocks became part of Booromba until John Hyles bought the station in 1952. Hyles then sold Bushfold to George Read in 1953. George's son Russell paid off the northern section, known then as McMahons.
In 1954, George and Russell built the hut at 835630. In about 1965, this section and hut were sold to Dr Hugh Pearson and his wife, Peg. Pearson later died in a car accident near by and the property passed to Brian McCormack until the lease expired in March 1994.
The hut was built in two sections. The southern end had a concrete floor and the northern end, added by Pearson, was left as a garage wtih dirt floor.
Subsequently, the hut was slightly damaged by the 2003 bushfires. (It is shown to the left in January 2003 following this damage). The Parks Service and NPA volunteers subsequently pulled the building down and cleared this site and Reeds.
On September 19, 2003, the Namadgi Park Board agreed to allow KHA to rebuild the hut on the same site. Rebuilding commenced in May 2004 and three workparties had completed it to an "enclosed state" by September 2004. The new hut is identical in size, but the timber framing is slightly heavier. It is now in excellent commission.
There are other huts at the northern end of Bushfold (McMahons), but burnt down in 2003.
Construction
Iron walls and roof, over a concrete slab. Two rooms with a brick fireplace. The chimney is unusual in that it was made from a ships boiler in welded steel.
Caretakers - Kosciusko Huts Association
References
Matthew Higgins Namadgi Sites 1994 p7.
Val Jeffreys - pers comm
Steve Angus - pers comm.
