Cattlemen from the Kiewa Valley had huts up on the High Plains. Each Summer they would take their cattle up to the High Plains for grazing.Coloured photo of a Cattleman riding along a bush track and followed by a packhorse. cattlemen, pack horses

Leo Wimmer who lived locally was commissioned to do the painting for the Mt Beauty, S. K. Pearce Pty. Ltd., Supermarket as a display was wanted to fit against the blank walls opposite the cash registers (where the liquor store is now). His idea was to break up the parts in the painting and use these as large replicas painted on wood for the display. An official opening was held and Leo used the money earned to visit his homeland, Austria. Leo trained as a restorer of church art in Austria.This painting was commissioned for a Cattlemen's display behind the cash registers at the Mt Beauty S. K. Pearce Supermarket. Each part of the foreground was painted separately onto stand alone boards -the cattle, the hut, the grass and the Mt Beauty township. Leo Wimmer lived locally and was a professional frame conservator. Leo Wimmer specialised in gilding and worked at the National Gallery of Victoria and later the National Gallery of Australia (NGA Nov. 1981 - 1990) where he was responsible for conservation of gilded frames in the national collection. This involved crafting of missing pieces on period frames, conservation/restoration of gilded surfaces, crafting of period frames, and lecturing at galleries and institutions on gilding, wood carving, Australian frame history and crafting of period frames. Framed painting of Mt Bogong with cattle, Mt Beauty township and cattleman's hut in foreground.Circular watermark (illegible) on bottom right corner. "Wimmer / 1" is underneath the watermark.cattlemen; bogong high plains; s.k.pearce; mt beauty supermarket; leo wimmer;

Black and white image of a man in the Australian ouback. He is John Forrest.john forrest, cattleman

The cattlemen's huts on the High Plains were used as shelter during the herding of the cattle on the Bogong High Plains during summer. Wallace's Hut is the oldest cattleman's hut and was owned by the Wallace family.This long handled spade was used by the 3 Wallace Brothers to dig 6 post holes for the posts of Wallace's Hut in 1889. On the 6th hole they struck rock 6 inches down but they persevered and succeeded in chipping away the rock to the required depth of 3 feet. This is the post in the south east corner.This long handled spade was made in Birmingham and was used by the 3 Wallace Brothers to dig 6 postholes for Wallace's Hut on the bogong high Plains in 1889.Birmingham 3 Cast Steel 234bogong high plains. wallace's hut. cattlemen's huts. tool.

Edmondson's Hut is a cattleman's hut on the Bogong High Plains. Jim Edmondson obtained Run 33 (near Mt Nelse) in the early 1930s. He pre cut the timber at his property in Tawonga and along with iron for the walls, chimney and roof took it up to the Bogong High Plains on pack horse. The hut's wall and ceiling were lined and the hut had a 'fairly good floor and bunks'. In 1971 the hut was donated to the Education Department and was approved for transfer by the Lands Department in 1974. Bogong Outdoor School camp has been using the hut for students to camp in as well as National Fitness parties when walking in the area. The upper Kiewa Valley was settled from the mid 1860s and from its earliest days cattle were taken on to the Bogong High Plains to graze during summer. Jim Edmondson took his cattle from the Kiewa Valley to Mt Fainter and later to Run 33, near Mt Nelse. His hut is significant in the history of Cattlemen's huts on the Bogong High Plains.Four A4 typed sheets on white paper - 1. Acknowledgement of transfer of Edmondson's Hut. 2. History of Visitors (to the hut) Prior to 1971. 3. Two poems. 4. One poem 1. Emblem of Education Dept. Centre top of page. Addressed to James Edmondson, Tawonga, Victoria. 2. Page headed History and Visitors prior 1971. 3. My Old black Poley Cow (and) Roper's Track. 4. So Long, Mates!education department. edmondson's hut. bogong high plains. cattlemen. poetry. cattleman hut. bush walking.

The arrival of explorers Hume & Hovell in 1842 brought about the widespread clearing of land in the valleys for pastoral uses and the displacement the original inhabitants in the high country which became a boon for cattlemen due to extensive lush summer grazing for cattle. High country cattlemen built a variety of huts for shelter and storage, when driving cattle up to the plains in summer, during mustering and bringing the cattle down from the mountains before winter closed in. These same huts now provide shelter from the elements for hikers, bush walkers and skiers. Wallace’s Hut is the oldest of the Cattleman’s huts still standing in the Alpine National Park and is classified under the National Trust. Due to their age and the ravages of the elements, including bush fires, many of the huts have been destroyed, or are falling into disrepair. Groups of willing volunteers are now working to preserve as many of the huts as possible with restoration or rebuilding.The numerous cattleman’s huts of the Alpine National Park and the colourful characters who erected them represent a significant part of the history of the high country area and early cattle grazing, which has been the theme for many poets and film-makers alike. They also have a significant role in the early days of the SECV when they were used by surveyors and other workers for shelter and temporary accommodation. More recently the huts have functioned as shelter for hikers and skiers caught out in the elements and a refuge along the long trek for bush walkers. They are a popular attraction for tourists and feature prominently in much of the tourist information of the region. Black and white double page Newspaper article from the Herald Sun Newspaper of February 18, 2006 regarding the efforts of Mr David Oldfield to preserve Victoria’s remaining High Country Huts through his photography and efforts to restore old and Re-build missing ones. Article shows a photograph of David Oldfield and some of his photographic work of the huts. Page number and date printed at top of each page 30 Herald Sun, Saturday, February 18, 2006 Herald Sun, Saturday, February 18, 2006 83 cattlemen's huts; david oldfield; bogong high plains; wallace's hut; high country; alpine national park

In the mid to late 1930’s survey outposts were established to plot the early stages of the Kiewa Hydro Electric System for the SECV in the Bogong High Plains. Before any roads were built, the old cattleman’s tracks were used with packhorses to deliver supplies, wages and mail and collect timesheets and correspondence from the workmen and dam builders living in canvas tents and at the outlying survey posts. The trip up the mountain was long and hard and dangerous for both horse and man Most of the men of the survey teams were not bush-men and were often ill equipped for the harsh weather and living conditions of bush camping, often arriving in their city clothes ready for work. The tent city at Bogong was destroyed by bush fires in 1939 after which an access road was built from Mt Beauty to transport building materials for more permanent dwellings for workmen. Pack horses continued to be used for transporting goods etc. to workers further up the mountain.Without the work of horsemen and their pack horses providing supplies and communications for outlying outposts, surveying and early planning for the Kiewa Valley Hydro Electric scheme could not have gone ahead and the dams and power stations which support the system could not have been constructed. The Hydro-electric scheme, and the workers who planned and built it play a major part in the early history of the Kiewa Valley and many original families still remain living, or have ties with the local area.: Set of 21 black and white photographs and copies of photographs depicting the pack horses and the men who handled them, transporting supplies and correspondence to the outlying camps and survey posts in the Bogong High Plains, via the rough cattlemen’s tracks. Photographs also show the early tent camps of the workers. Some photos mounted on A4 white paper. Some photos enlarged to A3 poster size for display1. Handwritten on back – Max Lawrence 2. -8 No inscriptions 9. Handwritten on back- Packing in supplies for early workers of the Kiewa Hydro scheme. There were no roads in the early days of the scheme 10. Printed on bottom of photo- Roper’s cattle on road below Howman’s Gap 11. Handwritten on back – Roper’s et al about to leave for the high plains 12. Printed under photo- Syd Ryder at the Pretty Valley Cut-Out (JBR) 13-16. No markings 17. Printed under photo- Gwen Talbot visits the Camp area. 1937 18. Handwritten on back- 14/1 Barbara Talbot 19. No markings 20-21. No markings 22. Printed under photo- STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA. Date: 15-3-45 Time: 8.0pm No: K 1838 Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works, Investigations 1944-1945 – Survey Camp at Young’s Hut pack horses; bogong high plains; survey posts; supplies delivery

Cattlemen wore coats when working with their cattle especially during the winter in the Kiewa Valley and when travelling on horses with cattle to, on and from the High Plains where they stayed for days during summer attending and mustering their cattle. The coats protected the cattlemen from harsh weather conditions including snow which sometimes fell in summer. This coat was owned and worn by Richard Marum who owned a farm in Tawonga south. He was the descendant of Kyran Marum, the stockman, who worked for Georgina Huggins. Brown leather full length coat with collar, lapel, long sleeves and buttoning up the front. Instead of pockets the coat has an opening about 12 cm on each side that look like pockets.cattlemen, leather coat, bogong high plains, marum family, tawonga south

These gaiters where used circa 1800's to mid 1900's, by horse riders "cattle men" to protect their shins and long trousers against wear and tear. They were used rather than having expensive boots damaged. Gaiters were a lot easier to fasten and clean than boots. They were used in the Kiewa Valley and the High Plains grazing areas.These gaiters were part of a cattleman's "out fit". The Gaiters were easily cleaned and did away with expensive riding boots. They were used throughout the valley and high plains areas both by horse riders herding cattle and the recreational rider of both sexes. After the 1950s more recreational riders from Melbourne ventured onto the high plains and not so rugged mountain slopes. Small settlements such as Mount Beauty, Bogong village and Falls Creek provided a secure backdrop for short term horse back adventures. The increasing pressure of city life provided a greater flow of stressed out city dweller to find the peace and quiet that city life does not have. Horse riding preceded the modern trail bikes and other recreational vehicles of the late 1900s. Thick leather tapered gaiters with six metal Hooks and Leather lacing through metal eyelets. All bar two eyelets have a metal reinforced punch holes. Left gaiter missing most of lacing.horse, country, leather, gaiters, high, grazing, cattlemen, laces, studs