Jan's Hut
This photo below courtesy of the Jans family.
Known as Jans Hut or Staggs Hut.
Located at Mt Baw Baw on the eastern side.
GPS Location: 37.8045° S, 146.3091° E
History
The hut was built by Johan Jans and his son Frederick about 1922. It was raised to the ground in 1939 fires and rebuilt, standing today.
The Jans family originally came from Denmark, to settle in the Warburton area. To quote Mirelle Jans recently (2025):
Fred (Curly) Jans and his nephew Norm (Bluey) Jans rebuilt their Hut on Mt Baw Baw after it burned down in the 1939 Bushfires along with 600 + head of their cattle.
The Hut was rebuilt by hand with true bushman skills after they pack-horsed the materials in.
Dad (Norm) enlisted for Military Service for WW2 in April 1940. While Norm was deployed overseas, Fred Jans became gravely ill with cancer. Family told Mum (Freida Jans) that Fred hung on for dad to get back home. In August 1942, Norm arrived home, Fred passed away in December 1942.
This remote Hut on Mt Baw Baw is a testament to the memory of the grit and determination of getting things done by these two men in the toughest of times.
On the 1st of November this year (2025), Fred and Norms' descendants, along with family friends, got together and walked to the hut to celebrate the history of 'Jans Hut'.
Mirelle Jans
Caretakers - Jans Family and friends
References
Craig Copland (a relative) - pers comm.
Gary Duncan and Robin Rishworth