Gooley’s Creek Hut

All photographs courtesy of the Restoration Team from VHCHA Victoria High Country Huts Assocation. A link to their newsletter is shown below.

Known as Gooley Creek Hut and Gooley’s Hut, often just as Gooley Hut. The story that the name comes from “getting your goolies wet”

Located on the Johnson Hill Track, within the Woods Point Gold-Mines Historic Area, near the Goulburn River. Sometimes the track is spelt as “Johnsons Hill”.

History

Gooley Creek Hut was built in 1974 by miner Bruce Gloz on the site of the former Gooleys Creek gold-mining township near Woods Point. Rebuilt by the East Malvern Motorcycle Club in 2002, it underwent further conservation work in 2018 through a partnership between club members, VHCHA volunteers and Parks Victoria.

The historical timeline follows:

  • 1860s – Gold discoveries associated with William Gooley led to the development of the Gooley Creek settlement near Woods Point. Precise dates and details need confirmation.

  • 1939 – The Black Friday bushfires destroyed the settlement’s remaining buildings, according to VHCHA’s account.

  • 1974 – Miner Bruce Gloz built Gooley Creek Hut on the former township site.
    24 December 2001 – The hut was destroyed. VHCHA’s hut page attributes this to reckless visitors; its later restoration account describes the building as having collapsed.

  • 2002 – Members of the East Malvern Motorcycle Club salvaged and repaired the remains, rebuilding the hut at the site.

  • 2018 – East Malvern Motorcycle Club members, VHCHA volunteers and Parks Victoria undertook substantial repairs to the walls, roof structure and chimney after the second hut was destroyed by bushfire in 2009.

Here are the links to the VHCHA articles and page -

Construction

A wood cabin with pitched iron roof.

GPS 37°34′47.35″S, 146°16′32.45″E, from ExplorOz.

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