The bushfire also provided an excellent opportunity to Replacement of Federation, Michell raise the standard of the huts in line with their primary and McNamara’s Hut purpose as refuges. Both huts now easily accommodate By the beginning of 2005, five of the destroyed huts 15 people for emergency refuge and come equipped with Federation, Michell, Mt Benambra Fire Tower, – a bench for food preparation and water tanks. They are Bogong Aqueduct and McNamara’s Huts had – constructed of Cyprus pine, which weathers well under been replaced. (Replacing McNamara’s Hut was a exposure to the elements and is resistant to insect special case as outlined below.) damage. Some of the design guidelines for the reconstruction Both huts were prefabricated in Stanley and then of Federation and Michell included: dismantled into 400 kg lots to be flown to their All rebuilt huts to be designed and built in respective locations. sympathy with the natural environment. Building materials to be in keeping with the purpose of the hut and the setting, but not to be sourced from within the National Park. Federation Hut Site selection to be based upon indigenous The original Federation Hut was nestled on a community consultation, environmental narrow ridge just south-west of Mt assessment, fire protection and recreational Feathertop in the Alpine National Park. Being needs. located above the snow line, the hut at this popular site was considered essential for A local architectural firm was engaged to design the replacement because of its significant refuge new huts and stakeholders were invited to contribute value. suggestions to the design. A builder was then awarded the contract for fabricating the two huts a Helicopters flew in the materials for – Federation Hut to the site in mid-December not inconsiderable challenge given the harsh nature of the terrain and the need for the huts to be 2004, but weather conditions deteriorated prefabricated and flown in pieces by helicopter to the and remained stormy throughout the entire remote sites. construction phase. Builders and staff chose to remain It was decided that it would be impractical to and continue working whenever replicate the old structures, with their hotchpotch of possible. building styles and environmental inefficiency. The Construction of Federation Hut was design for the new huts is both functional and robust, completed in 11 days, just before Christmas while still reflecting traditional values. 2004. The Recovery Story - The 2003 Alpine Fires 19
Replacement of Federation, Michell and McNamara’s Hut By the beginning of 2005, five of the destroyed huts – Federation, Michell, Mt Benambra Fire Tower, Bogong Aqueduct and McNamara’s Huts – had been replaced. (Replacing McNamara’s Hut was a special case as outlined below.) Some of the design guidelines for the reconstruction of Federation and Michell included: All rebuilt huts to be designed and built in sympathy with the natural environment. Building materials to be in keeping with the purpose of the hut and the setting, but not to be sourced from within the National Park. Site selection to be based upon indigenous community consultation, environmental assessment, fire protection and recreational needs. A local architectural firm was engaged to design the new huts and stakeholders were invited to contribute suggestions to the design. A builder was then awarded the contract for fabricating the two huts – a not inconsiderable challenge given the harsh nature of the terrain and the need for the huts to be prefabricated and flown in pieces by helicopter to the remote sites. It was decided that it would be impractical to replicate the old structures, with their hotchpotch of building styles and environmental inefficiency. The design for the new huts is both functional and robust, while still reflecting traditional values. The bushfire also provided an excellent opportunity to raise the standard of the huts in line with their primary purpose as refuges. Both huts now easily accommodate 15 people for emergency refuge and come equipped with a bench for food preparation and water tanks. They are constructed of Cyprus pine, which weathers well under exposure to the elements and is resistant to insect damage. Both huts were prefabricated in Stanley and then dismantled into 400 kg lots to be flown to their respective locations. Federation Hut The original Federation Hut was nestled on a narrow ridge just south-west of Mt Feathertop in the Alpine National Park. Being located above the snow line, the hut at this popular site was considered essential for replacement because of its significant refuge value. Helicopters flew in the materials for Federation Hut to the site in mid-December 2004, but weather conditions deteriorated and remained stormy throughout the entire construction phase. Builders and staff chose to remain and continue working whenever possible. Construction of Federation Hut was completed in 11 days, just before Christmas 2004. The Recovery Story - The 2003 Alpine Fires 19
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