Historic Tasmanian tiger trapper’s hut lost as bushfires rage

A heritage-listed hut built by a well-known thylacine trapper more than 90 years ago has been destroyed by a bushfire raging in Tamania’s Southwest wilderness.

Churchill’s Hut, on the Adamsfield Track, was deep within the Florentine Forest. Picture: JENNIFER CRAWLEY

A HERITAGE-listed hut built by a well-known thylacine trapper more than 90 years ago has been destroyed by a bushfire raging in Tasmanian’s Southwest wilderness.

Sprinklers were installed around Churchill’s Hut, named for Tasmanian tiger trapper Elias Churchill, to protect the historic property from fire.

But a Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment spokeswoman today confirmed the building near Tim Shea had been razed.

“Despite the installation of sprinklers to wet the hut unfortunately it did not survive the fire,” a department spokeswoman said.

“Churchill’s Hut is permanently entered on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

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A map showing where the hut was located.

“This recognises its heritage significance to the whole of Tasmania, as helping to tell the stories of trappers who lived and worked in remote locations in Tasmania’s highlands, and the story of the Tasmanian tiger.”

The hut was built in 1925 and was situated until this week in regrowth eucalypt forest.

Tourism Tasmania provided a grant to conserve the hut in 2007.

It was the last thylacine trapping hut in the state and was believed by some to be the site of the last Tasmanian tiger.

Some of the memorabilia found at the hut — an old table, teapots, bottles and a rusted pitchfork. The walls were lined with 1954 editions of The Mercury.