Howittville Hut
Known as Howittville Hut.
Located on private land off Pioneer Track in the Crooked River valley, shown on the Talbotville 8323-3-4 topographic map (1:25,000). From Dargo, approach Talbotville via Dargo High Plains Road and McMillans Road, approximately 32 km from Dargo Hotel to the Crooked River Track junction. The onward Crooked River and Pioneer Track approach involves unsealed 4WD tracks and river crossings. We suggest arranging the landholder’s permission and obtain the guidance before entering. Distances are not verified.
History
Built in the 1940s to support local grazing, according to the heritage assessment. The existing account describes the hut as belonging to a syndicate with tenure on the local cattle run; the families also used it for recreational horse riding. Current ownership arrangements have not been confirmed. The hut survived the 2003 bushfires.
The heritage assessment recorded it as not assessed in 1996 and below the heritage significance threshold in 2004. The 2004 assessment did not recommend municipal planning scheme protection or inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register. These are historical assessment findings, rather than confirmation of its current statutory status.
References
G. Butler and Associates, heritage assessment extract supplied by Olaf Moon;
Anne Sedgley, personal communication;
Howittville access guide (regional approach).
Mapping Guide;
GPS: approximately 37.34229°S, 147.06346°E (WGS84).
UTM Zone 55H: 505621 m E, 5867153 m N. Converted from the assessment’s original AMG Zone 55 reference: 505509 m E, 5866969 m N, assuming AGD66. The source labels the datum “AHD 1964”; this is ambiguous, so the converted position is approximate and not field-verified.
Map: Talbotville 8323-3-4, 1:25,000.
