Summit Hut
Photo courtesy of NPWS.
Known as The Summit Hut, Carr Villa and various other names.
Located Near the summit of Leggs Tor.
History (Including Notes from the Tasmania Heritage Register Data Sheet on the Hall Hut at Lake Malbena).
This hut was designed by the redoubtable Reg Hall, famous solicitor and outdoors man. The hut was built in 1937.
Hall was also involved in the establishment of the Northern Alpine Club in 1929, with its focus on developing a ski field at Legges Tor, Ben Lomond. He designed the second and third ski huts built at Ben Lomond, Himminborg (1933) and the Summit Hut (1937).
After Hall’s return to Launceston from World War Two service (1942–46), his wife Betty and young family experienced an estrangement from him that was common with returned soldiers. In subsequent years Hall spent much time away from home, and it is possible that for him remote places represented a refuge from a traumatic war experience.
Hall designed a third hut, Ben Bullen, at Ben Lomond in 1955, followed by High Dudgeon in 1958 and Ben Bothie in 1959/60 What Hall’s five Ben Lomond huts had in common was their remote location, very cold winter conditions, collaborative construction team and pack-horse transport of frames and wall timber.
Construction
Some of their design elements, including the Summit Hut’s entrance porch and gable window, and the log walls of Himminborg, were carried through to the design of Halls Hut at Lake Malbena in 1956.
References
‘Hikers safe’ 1935;
‘Mountain tour’ 1938;
‘Walking party’s experience’ 1938
Sharman 1998, p.77
Hall 1977, pp.7–8.