Long Plain Hut

The Club has volunteered to assist the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service maintain Long Plain Hut. Located in northern Kosciusko National Park, Long Plain Hut is a pleasant day trip from Canberra that can be undertaken in the family car during the summer months.

Brief History

Long Plain Hut was built in 1916 by Bobby Joyce for Dr Albert Campbell of Ellerslie Station near Adelong. Dr Campbell held a lease of several thousand hectares on Long Plain. The hut has been known over the years by several names including Dr Campbell's, Oddy's and Col Ibbotson's.

Timber for the hut was supplied by Jack Dunn's sawmill on the nearby Cumberland Range. Bobby Joyce and Master Bros of Tumut were involved in the construction. Originally it had a front veranda and a shingle roof which was later clad with iron.

The hut was used in summer by stockman and during winter by rabbit trappers. Bill Oddy managed Dr Campbell's lease for more than 20 years until the late 1930s. Col Ibbotson took over from Bill Oddy, spending summers tending sheep on Long Plain until his death in 1959.

Alvy Oddy, Bill's son, became the final leaseholder before grazing was phased out of this section of the park in the early 1960s.

Location

Long Plain Hut can be reached by conventional car during the summer months from the South end of Long Plain.  Follow Rules Point Road North off the Snowy Mountains Highway for about 2 Km and turn left to the Hut.

Four Wheel Drive access is available from the North side of KNP, follow Brindabella Road to Boundary Road and follow Boundary Road to Broken Cart Fire Trail which leads to Rules Point Road.

During the winter months of June - October KNP is subject to seasonal closure contact the Tumut office of NPWS for further information.

Restoration Work

The Land Rover Club of the ACT in consultation with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has been involved in the restoration of Long Plain Hut since 1998 and has undertaken a number of major repairs to the hut including:

• Restumping
• Installation of windows in the main rooms
• Rebuilding the front steps
• Repairing the fireplace
• Replacing the rear veranda and guttering
• Rebuilding the chimney

Arie De Bear, a Land Rover Club member, has been responsible for planning and organising most of the repairs carried out on Long Plain Hut.

Photos

Click here to see some images of Long Plain Hut.

Other References

Kosciusko Huts Association - external link
NPWS - Kosciusko National Park - external link