Murray Valley Ski Club Hut
Photograph copyright © Olaf Moon 2003.
Known as Murray Valley Hut or Murray Valley Ski Club Hut.
Located across the highway from Diamantina Hut near Mt Hotham. Shown on the "Harrietville" map at GR107076 at elevation 1720m. It is readily visible from the road.
GPS Location: S 36 58.563 E 147 07.341.
History
The Murray Valley Ski Club was first created in 1950 by a group of enthusiastic skiers from Cobram and Numurkah on the Murray River in Victoria. It was led by Geoff Leverette with Charles Foster and Elizabeth “Bett” Collins being elected to the committee at the first meeting on 26 October 1950. Bett’s husband, Jack was a builder and key supporter for the construction of this lodge.
You can read an excellent story and detail on these early days on the Australian Mountains website created by David Sisson with the article researched and written by Thomas Whiteside.
The initial construction of a lodge was commenced at Falls Creek in 1951, but the SEC who ran the location at the time, opposed all development for skiing. The MVSC then went into hibernation for two years and was re-initiated in 1954. There are various dates for the construction of this lodge, but it is most likely it was built in 1953 with a work-party arriving in January 1954 to get it ready for the coming ski season. Prior to this Jack had had a serious head injury and Geoff Leverette moved to Queensland and later to Tasmania (where I met him with my father). Geoff passed away in 1988. Hence the hiatus.
The Club had moved to Hotham, as getting permission from the Lands Department was relatively easy at the time, with multiple locations being offered. This one was chosen due to a freshwater spring being near, and it was close to Diamantina Hut.
It is apparent that the hut was regularly used and open to all who needed emergency shelter. There was also a small pump house below it, and also a rope tow with riders using a leather waist belt and “nutcracker” to ascend.
Over the years, the legal status of the hut has varied. Initially it was likely to have been a verbal “PO” - permissive occupancy, which was a common practise at the time. This was later formalised in 1965 for 30 pounds per year. Later the Hotham Board demanded $500 per year, apparently in an attempt to have it removed. A formal lease may have been signed later? The Collins Family and friends have remained as caretakers and occupiers, with some work being done on the hut over the years including a new roof and repairs to the chimney. The lease is now owned by the Hotham Management Trust.
Construction
Rendered brick, stone and panel board.
Caretakers Members of the Murray Valley Ski Club, Collins Family.
References
Magnussen P57.
Graeme Butler & Associates, Victorian Alpine Huts Heritage Survey 2004 – 2005, p. 824.
Back Country Huts website - http://www.backcountryhuts.net/huts/murray-valley-ski-club-hut/