Bushfires: fears held for alpine heritage huts in Victorian high country

There are fears for some of the 200 heritage-listed huts sprinkled across Victoria’s high country, after fire swept through the region.

A firefighter from Falls Creek Fire Brigade helps protect a hut.

There are fears for some of the 200 heritage-listed huts sprinkled across Victoria’s high country, after fire swept through the region.

Firefighters from Falls Creek took action to protect several of the structures, including Wallace’s Hut and Cope Hut, wrapping them in a fire-retardant material called FireStop and clearing the surrounded area.

While fires at the weekend did not hit the Falls Creek village, several uncontained blazes remain in the area.

Victorian High Country Huts Association president Allen Skilton said it was too early to know whether other huts had been damaged by fire.

“It might not be for several weeks until we know,” he said. “At this stage, the priority ­remains the fires.”

Heritage-listed Wallace’s Hut, near Falls Creek, built by three Wallace brothers in 1889, is one of many bush huts constructed by cattle musterers, fishermen, miners, loggers, forest rangers and, more recently, ski and bushwalking groups that are scattered across the Alpine National Park.

It has recently been restored by Parks Victoria, with the help of local businesses and volunteers.