b'Dec 2021 Trackwatch.qxp_Trackwatch Layout 128/11/20215:31 pmPage 20known James Barclay had also in the Lovicks hut took a bit longer than Helen Schusters\' at Howqua Hills.earlier years built a hut here and he planned, and in 2012 Lovicks Hut was In 1991 the Hut had some repairwas a very knowledgeable man. finished being rebuilt by the Lovick work done by a stone mason andaWhen this hut was first built Jacks family and friends on the same foot- DCNR workeron some of the roofyoung son Charlie Lovick, remembers print as the original. This new hut has and fireplace after fire damage and athe remains of Barclays hut could still a new and improved steeper roof veranda was added.be seen opposite. With a licence for pitch to better shed snow and the By the early 2000\'s, Jamieson hut hadrunning cattle in the High Country, the stone work on the floor of the hut was become very run down, so in 2008 theLovicks were allowed to build a brought up from the Lovicks Milking hut was restored with thanks to DEPI,mountain hut for safety and wellbeing. Shed from Merrijig. Keith Leydon and VHCHAIt was erected in stages; it had a The Lovicks are strong believers in Pickerings Hut; was built over twogabled form over large poles with iron the mountain traditions and heritage, summer seasonsin the early 1950sroof and walls. Features in the old hut always leaving mountain huts open, by Norman Pickering and some of hisincluded iron bunks, combustion never locked, everyone always friends. One person to assist with thestoves, hot water, shower and other welcome. It is important to teach construction was local identity Fredamenities. There was a simple future generations, that if there were Fry accompanied by his horses. Inveranda along the front and the floor no huts, people would certainly have those days the Howqua Track waswas concrete.perished. The best memories come just that, a track that stopped atOther additional huts were also from the stories and education that Sheepyard Flat, so the materials hadmoved here in 1985 but removed in gets passed around the open fire in a to be brought in by pack horse.1993. hut. - Researched and written by Norman & Daphne Pickering afterIn 1980 Jack Lovick Jnr was Sharyn Chambers, 2017 (ref interview their marriage in 1932 had beendeclared a "State Living Treasure" with Charlie Lovick) (ref Victorian camping along the Howqua in thisafter helping in a number of mountain Alpine Huts Heritage Survey area for many years prior to the warSAR missions. Jack and his family 2004/2005) and eventually Norman obtainedalso worked with the production of the Upper Jamieson Hut; situated permission to construct a permissiveMan from Snowy River movies, which beside the Jamieson River, Fred Fry occupancy building on this site. Thewas produced by a close relative of originally built this hut in the 1930s for hut was constructed from two treesthe family, Geoff Burrowes. The his Forestry Patrol. felled on the site, the stumps of whichLovicks also supplied all the horses Fred was an excellent bushman formed the foundations for the floor.and rode in both movies. and with his own personal style of The slabs were cut using a swing sawAfter many years, Lovicks Hut workmanship he erected many huts in and were fitted together without thesuccumbed to age and in 2003 the the region, using split timber and the use of any nails. There was a gap lefthut was removed due to safety classic method of rolling roof poles at the top of each panel of slabs toissues with the intension of replacing into place over the centre ridge of the allow for the expansion of the slabsit with a smaller hut on this historic new hut, using a horse and a long due to winter moisture. The Pickeringssite that has been used by manychain. loved their hut and shared it withCattlemen, horse riders, four wheel One of the first huts Fred construct- family, their staff & a wide range ofdrivers, bushwalkers and skiers. While ed was the Upper Jamieson hut in friends for many years till they bothLovicks Hut rebuild (a few poles in the about 1938-1940, and then Frys Hut passed away on separate occasionsground at this stage) escaped the on the Howqua River in about 1943- in the year 2000. Norm & Daphnes2006 bushfires, other huts in the area 44 both while working for the Forest ashes were scattered around the arealike Bluff, Ritchies, Craigs and Mt Commission. Fred Fry helped build of the hut at their request and they areNo3 Huts werent so lucky and burnt many huts for fishermen in the valley now at rest at the place they loved soto the ground. With all the Huts to be and these included Ashwin\'s, much and where they gave so muchrebuilt in the Park, unfortunately Gardiner\'s, Ritchie\'s, Pickering\'s and to so many.Lovicks Hut18 DECEMBER2021 TRACKWATCH'