Wilson's Creek Hut
Photos courtesy of Ron Dickson Copyright 2004.
Known as Wilsons Creek Hut or Wilson’s Creek Hut. Do NOT confuse it with Wilsons Hut near Bendoc, as these are different.
Located: near Taylors Creek in Lake Eildon National Park. From Eildon, follow the signed Jerusalem Creek Road approach, about 10 km to the camping area. The public-road approach is suitable for cars and motorcycles; beyond it, Taylors Creek and Wilsons Creek tracks are gravel routes with seasonal gates. Confirm permitted access with Parks Victoria before continuing towards Wombat Track. Earlier field notes describe a 300 m spur to a small parking area, followed by approximately 500 m each way of steep, partly untracked walking to the hut. Do not assume the old vehicle spur remains passable; a closed gate may add to the walk. NOTE that hidden mine shafts occur throughout the site.
Earlier field notes — check current access before relying on these directions
Stop your vehicle at 55H 409471 5874442 which is at the top of a short sharp hill (just before it starts a long descent to the weir) on Wilson Track.
Look around on the east side, slightly up hill, and you will find between the trees a track that winds its way to the East, down the hill. The earlier route followed this steep track for about 300 metres (200 as the crow flies), where it stops next to some fencing surrounding old mine shafts. 55H 409618 5874589 (you can park about 3-4 vehicles and turn them around to get out).
To get to the hut it is pretty much a straight walk down the hill, fencing on the left, towards the East. At times there appears to be a track but it comes and goes, then finally goes. The walk is steep, bit of bush bashing involved, and slippery even on a fine dry day. Keep clear of mine shafts and remain outside their protective fencing.
You walk down into a gully and if you keep a look out to the East you can pick up the Hut through the trees. As you approach the Hut you come across bits of relics from the mining days and the first thing you come across is the wooden structure that housed the gold stamper/battery.
Still more bits of mining equipment are lying around and the hut is now just a little further on up the hill, about 20 metres away at 55H 409809 5874564. Wilson Creek is about 100 m to the north of the hut. From the “carpark” to the hut it is 200 metres as the crow flies but probably about 500 metres of solid walking. We looked around for a way in from the north as there were “hints” of tracks/roads but these seemed to “die” in the bush.
History Parks Victoria states on the information board, that the hut dates back to 1930, and the gold claim for the area was filed in 1871, worked for a few years then closed. It was re-opened in the 1930s and again worked for a few years.
Construction
The hut is somewhat cut into the hill and approximately 7x4 metres. It is made from rounded poles with the outside metal sheeting nailed to the poles. It has some timber used to cover from the roof line to the metal walls. It has a corrugated iron roof with guttering. Fireplace has been covered internally with concrete reinforcing so it cannot be used.
Internally there is some graffiti on the round wooden beams, a bathtub, bunks, and an information board relating some of the history of the area.
Caretakers
Parks Victoria: The site lies within Lake Eildon National Park. Earlier field notes describe protective fencing around some mine shafts and report three bat species there; the species and their conservation status need verification. The timber battery shelter has forked uprights and cross-poles secured with wire beneath a corrugated-iron roof. The hut and battery were reported in good condition at the time of the earlier visit; their present condition and maintenance arrangements have not been confirmed.
References
Ron Dickson - pers comm
Parks Vic - interpretive signage.
Mapping Guide:
GPS: 37.27114°S, 145.98274°E.
UTM Zone 55H: 409809 m E, 5874564 m N. Approximate position consistent with ExplorOz and the recorded field grid reference, treated as WGS84.