Victorian Alpine Huts survey, for Parks Victoria April, May 1994.
The following history has been prepared at the Mansfield DCNR office under David Hurley who used oral and written material from the Stoney family: Eadley Stoney of `Minto Park’ (Mt. Eadley Stoney was named after him) shared the Bluff lease with Jack Ware commencing in the 1940s. Archie Cameron, Ray Kelly (q.v.) and Jack Davon also grazed the bluff in the 1950s and early 1960s. Eadley Stoney organised the building of the original Bluff Hut in 1955 with Graeme Stoney (age 15) packing the materials up the steep horse pack track in summer 1956. The hut was sited on the lowest saddle on the Bluff Range beneath the later named Mt. Eadley Stoney. Commencing in February 1956, all the cattlemen grazing the Bluff at that time helped build the original Bluff Hut (C Stoney p.79). Jack Ware was responsible for the most important job of shaping the frame timbers from local snow gum and ash. Jack used the classic construction methods (using adze and axe) that he learned as a boy working for Jim Barclay and Jack Bullock who were the first men to run cattle on the High Country beyond the Howqua River see also Stoney: 52 Graeme Stoney has since stated that that the site was chosen for its shelter from the prevailing winds Truscott: 20. The hut is shown in Siseman’s 1985 guide to the national park, in a similar form to the existing Siseman: 111. Bluff Hut was the scene of controversy in the early 1980s when Graham Stoney sought a permissive occupancy for the hut and met a departmental refusal. The hut had just been extended to cater for Stoney’s High Country Adventure summer trail riding and winter Nordic skiing ventures, led by John Brewster. Assessed in 1982 the hut operations included two long-drop toilets; dish and hand washing sullage pumped 30m east of hut into `undisturbed vegetation’ for absorption into the ground; wood obtained from lower down the mountain; and water from a spring south-west of the site. The extensions themselves had complied with the Minister’s requirements, being similar to the original hut although now `somewhat distended in character’ DCNR file 85/284 RG Patrick report. Eventually in 1985 the Forests Commission gave Stoney a permissive occupancy for the hut but to his displeasure the recently completed bunk room, washroom were to remain for public use, allowing the prior right to be exercised over only the old part of the hut. Summer commercial horse riding tours started at the hut 1986-7 Truscott: 18. In 1986 Stoney noted that Bluff Carpark was receiving increased 4WD traffic and needed maintenance by CF&L who responded positively. Two years later, High Country Adventures desired more space at the hut, noting that winter clients were being jostled by the general public who sought refuge next to the fire in the old section as well as the refuge next door. An economically sized party consisted of 22 guest plus a staff of five whereas existing bunk room accommodation allowed only 18-20 to be sleep at the hut while staff slept in tents and cars. Stoney wanted to put bunks into an `old shed’ at the end of the bunk room, relocate the nearby wash room and sauna, add another room to the side of the old section, add an open verandah for outdoor shelter to the original verandah and convert the end of the enclosed verandah into a sleeping area. The department did not respond to this proposal, provoking more letters from High Country Adventure whose paying guests were still being jostled by irate members of the public seeking access to the fire. The letter noted that the Stoney family had run cattle on the Bluff since the early 1940s, they had built and maintained all parts of the present hut and hence deserved more rights over its use. Responding to a report from the Alpine Planning Team, Stoney wrote that the scope of the original permissive occupancy lease had been a mistake, allowing rights over only the old section of the hut and the sauna (which the report had sought removal of) was actually a drying room and should not be removed DCNR file 85/284: Letters 9.1989, 1.3.90 comments on prelim. Alpine Planning Team report. Cattle had been phased out of the Bluff and tourism had been proposed as its replacement: now even this activity was being restricted. The hut was included in an Alpine National Park in 1989 Truscott. On the other side of the controversy, the department received complaints from bodies such as the Peninsula 4WD Club who queried High Country Adventure’s operations at both Bluff and Lovick’s huts, suggesting that they be available for public rather than commercial use DCNR file 85/284: letter 19.3.88. The Victorian National Parks Association and the Ski Touring association of Victoria had also showed their irritation at what they judged to be an expansion of commercial activity at Bluff hut DCNR file 85/284: briefing note 12.4.89. The hut extensions have attracted controversy and hence the hut has become well-known by many mountain users, lending its present form a degree of recent heritage interest. Commercial cross country ski tours from the hut ceased around 1991-2 and the Stoney horse tours ended May 2002 Truscott. Public risk insurance problems had affected many adventure style commercial enterprises nationally. The 2002 Heritage Action Plan identified the following relevant Australian Historic Themes: Grazing stock 3.5.1 Organising recreation- enjoying the natural environment 8.1.4 Living in remote areas…
