Photos
Created by Copilot AI and may not be accurate. Awaiting review
| Built | 1940 by Bill Smith & Peter Hadfield for Charles Townsend |
| Condition | ★★★★☆ (restored; intact) |
| Location | 4 km east of Tantangara Dam, near Pedens Hut junction |
| Alternate Names | Townsends Lodge |
| 1940 | Constructed for summer sheep grazing by bookmaker Charles Townsend and son Jack |
| 1970–71 | Last mob of sheep removed; grazing ceased |
| 1999 | Restored by Clive Richardson and team; fireplace removed, verandah rebuilt |
Townsends Hut was built in 1940 by Bill Smith and Peter Hadfield for Charles William Townsend and his son Jack. It served as a summer grazing base and was closely linked to the Taylor family at Currango. The hut was frequently vandalised until its full restoration in 1999, which included removal of the dangerous fireplace and reconstruction of the verandah.
The hut has strong family associations, with recollections from Mirrie Townsend and Phil Townsend recorded in the KHA archive. It remains a well-maintained and historically rich site in the Tantangara region.
Townsends Hut measures approximately 6m × 3.5m and includes three rooms in an irregular layout. It is built of timber and fibro with a corrugated iron roof. A shed stands at the rear. The original fireplace was removed during restoration, and the verandah was rebuilt to match historical photographs.
The hut is dry and weatherproof, with basic furnishings and a gambrel still hanging on the wall — once used for dressing sheep.
Townsends Hut is listed in the KNP Plan of Management Schedule L.121 and holds KHA reference number 117377. Restoration was led by Clive Richardson and a volunteer team in 1999. The site is actively monitored and remains in good condition.
The hut is maintained by NPWS and KHA volunteers. Interpretive signage is recommended to highlight its grazing history, family connections, and restoration story. Access is via fire trail from Tantangara Dam, with a turn uphill after crossing the river junction near Pedens Hut.