Noonans Hut
Photo courtesy of Bill Statton, 1998.
Known as Noonans Hut or Noonan’s Hut.
Located beside Brocks Road and the Howqua River in Howqua Hills Historic Area. From Mansfield, follow sealed Mount Buller Road through Merrijig and turn onto gravel Howqua Track about 3 km beyond the township. Descend to Sheepyard Flat, approximately 35 km from Mansfield, cross the bridge and follow Brocks Road to the signed Noonans Flat camping area. Parks Victoria lists this valley camping access as suitable for 2WD vehicles, subject to conditions. Park in the public camping area and walk to the hut; the exact total driving distance and final walking metres have not been verified. Public camping access does not establish permission to enter a locked or privately managed hut. Respect gates and check current access after rain.
History
Roy Bostock, then manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Mansfield, applied for permissive occupancy in 1949 for a site about two miles upstream from Frys Hut. Earlier accounts associate Fred Fry with a drop-slab hut for Bostock, but also record a steel garage and Bostock’s later move to Six Mile Creek. These details need checking against the occupancy files.
Robin Noonan of Melbourne’s International Hotel took over the lease in 1966. The earlier heritage account records a larger slab hut built in 1967, approximately 30 by 16 feet, using large manna gums from the site. The relationship between that building and the earlier Fry/Bostock structure needs confirmation. The hut illustrates the development of recreational fishing retreats in the valley.
Construction
Substantial slab walls and a gabled iron roof, with a double-sided internal fireplace. Reused six-pane sash windows, boarded doors and leadlight windows are unusual features for a bush hut. Current caretaker and internal-access arrangements are unconfirmed.
References
Parks Victoria, Howqua Hills camping information; VHCHA mapped location; Hueneke, pp. 69 and 241; Butler, pp. 238–242.
GPS: 37.18698°S, 146.36087°E. UTM Zone 55H: 443272 m E, 5884194 m N. Approximate VHCHA mapped position, treated as WGS84; not field-verified.