Keppels Hut
Photos courtesy of Gary Duncan © 1995, showing the hut before the 2009 fire.
Located at Keppel Creek, north of Lake Mountain, approximately 25 km by forest roads from Marysville. From Marysville–Woods Point Road, take Lady Talbot Drive, then Upper Taggerty Road and Keppel Hut Track. The forest roads are gravel and the final Keppel Hut Track is 4WD only, with seasonal gates. Use a capable 4WD or suitable off-road motorcycle when open. 2WD cars are asked to stop before the 4WD section. An Artworkz heritage factsheet suggests about 30 minutes walking from the closed Keppel Track gate.
History
Maurice John Keppel arrived in Australia aboard Joshua in 1851–52. He married Mary Grainger, moved to Marysville and took over the hotel. Their children were John, Jerry, Catherine and Michael. Earlier accounts record family land from 1864 and huts called the White House on Mount Margaret and Wild Oat Hut on Lake Mountain; their relationship to the present hut site needs further checking.
The Keppels grazed cattle and sheep in the area from 1885 until 1963. VHCHA dates the original hut at this site to after the 1939 fires. It burnt accidentally in 1983 and was replaced with help from Goulds Sawmills, the Marysville Historical Society, community groups and departmental staff. Black Saturday destroyed the replacement on 7 February 2009. The present hut was rebuilt in summer 2009–10, incorporating the surviving stone chimney. Government material gives an earlier origin of 1885, so the earliest hut chronology remains uncertain.
Construction
Timber-framed hut with horizontal weatherboards, timber floor and stone chimney. The photographs dated 1995 show an earlier incarnation.
Caretakers
Melbourne Jeep Owners Club, working with VHCHA and the land manager.
References
VHCHA, Keppels Hut;
Artworkz, Marysville
Keppel Hut historic factsheet;
Explore Outdoors Victoria;
Hueneke, p. 239;
Stephenson, pp. 154, 155, 157 and 160.
Mapping Guide:
GPS: 37.45858°S, 145.85201°E.
UTM Zone 55H: 398471 m E, 5853635 m N. Approximate ExplorOz position, treated as WGS84; not field-verified.