Grey Mare Hut

Historical Timeline

Historical Overview

Grey Mare Hut is a remote and historically rich alpine shelter located at the top of the Munyang Corridor on the Grey Mare Fire Trail in Kosciuszko National Park. The current hut is the third built at this location. The original structure was erected in 1934 to support mining operations, and remnants of mining equipment still remain just uphill from the hut, offering a tangible link to its industrial past.

In 1949, Jack and Jim Bolton reused materials from the earlier hut to construct the present building. Over the years, it has been adapted for recreational use, particularly by cross-country skiers, and is considered one of the key survival shelters in the park. The hut gained a quirky cultural footnote in the 1950s when artist Rufus Morris drew a series of fading charcoal murals—nudes and ghostly figures—on the interior walls during a snowed-in stay.

Grey Mare Hut is approximately 7 by 3.5 metres in size, with corrugated iron walls and roof, a timber floor, and tongue-and-groove timber lining added in 1960. It features a granite and cement chimney, one window, and a nearby toilet. Its location and sturdy construction make it a vital refuge in harsh alpine conditions, and it continues to be a popular waypoint for bushwalkers and skiers exploring the Jagungal Wilderness.

Architectural Notes

Grey Mare Hut is a single-room structure with corrugated iron walls and roof, a timber floor, and a stone fireplace. It includes five bunks and ample space for gear storage. The hut’s design is utilitarian, reflecting its mining origins and alpine function.

No toilet is present at the site. Water may be sourced from nearby creeks, though seasonal availability varies.

Oral Histories

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN BOLTON 23 August 1991 by Graham Scully ²

GS: The Grey Mare Hut - you and Jim Bolton built it in 1949.

JB: We helped with it . Albert Peterson done more of the construction work of the new hut, because he had a bit more building experience than myself. My Uncle Jim was pulling part of the old hut down, knocking nails out of the timber and I was helping carry it up and helping Albert with the building. I done quite a bit on the building, but Albert would have done most of the construction work.

Conservation & Stewardship

Stewardship is shared between NPWS and KHA volunteers. The hut is maintained as a remote shelter and heritage site. Interpretive signage is recommended to highlight its mining history and alpine role.

Notes from 'Kosciuszko National Park Huts Conservation Strategy' October 2005³

• History and Associations:
  • The current hut, built in 1949, is the third on a site historically linked to the Grey Mare mine.
  • Associated with early ski touring and racing, the final phase of mining, and the last period of pastoral use in the park.
• Aesthetic and Social Value:
  • Considered an archetypal hut design, holding high community esteem as a meeting place with strong historical connections.
  • Interior features murals painted in 1954–55 by Sydney artist Rufus Morris, contributing to its rarity and cultural value.
• Recreational Use:
  • Popular destination for cross-country skiers and bushwalkers.
  • Located on a well-used recreational route and linked to a broader network of huts through long-standing use.
• Associated Features:
  • Significant archaeological potential, including ruins of the first hut.
  • Remains of steam engines, mining machinery, collapsed tunnel entrances, and racelines present on site.
• Conservation Status:
  • Identified in the Huts Conservation Strategy as having a strong sense of place due to its historic and continuing multi-layered associations.
  • Noted for its high aesthetic appeal within its landscape setting.

Photos

References

1. Kosciuszko Huts Association – Grey Mare Hut Profile
2. INTERVIEW WITH JOHN BOLTON 23 August 1991 by Graham Scully
3. Kosciuszko National Park Huts Conservation Strategy
4. Australian Alps Iconic Heritage Huts 3D Digital Tours Project
5. GPS Coordinates: -36.211975, 148.338250 – OpenStreetMap