O'DELL'S HUT

O’Dell’s Hut is a single room, portable hut located on Odells Track in Brookville, East Gippsland. It is of a modest size and simple form with timber stud, weatherboard clad walls and arched corrugated iron roof with rare Morewood & Co Star Brand. It is set on skids enabling it to be pulled to different locations within the forest. It likely has its origins in the late nineteenth century and was possibly remodelled in the early twentieth century. It was likely used in goldmining and logging activities in the area. 

O’Dell’s Hut is of historical significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the VHR: 

Criterion B
Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history.

O’Dell’s Hut is significant as a rare example of an early portable hut. Its scale and form are uncommon amongst huts in Victoria. It contains unusual features of note that were not widely replicated, including its skids, straps and tow hitches which clearly demonstrate how it was transported to different locations. It retains a corrugated iron roof with the Morewood & Co Star brand which likely dates from between the 1860s and 1880s, adding to its rarity. There are other examples of portable huts in Victoria but most appear to be of later construction than O’Dell’s Hut. [Criterion B]