Thread: Golden Hills Hut Restoration

Stayed in the old hut over thirty years ago and hadn't been back until last November when hunting from the new hut. Went and checked out the restoration. Awesome job, really well done although could only see from the outside.

Visited the hut about three weeks back when hunting and it looked incredible.

Noticed that the monowai and manuka have taken over quite a lot of the tussock compared to when I first hunted the area in 1989. More cover for the sika. Took a couple of deer less than 100m from the hut right on dark; could just make them out after cranking the scope power back to about 5x.

It's a beautiful area and the hills are gentle.

Our final Restoration Trip is planed for 17 - 22 nd Jan to complete the minor work that is still to be done .

We will be displaying items found during the Restoration and are on the look out for 2 or 3 old saddles , also any old horse related items that can be hung inside the Hut , anything mustering related would be welcome , old dog chains etc , billys , lanterns , hand shears .

It would be greatly appreciated if any members are help out with the above .

Thanks Murray N

What a fantastic effort.
Well done to all involved.

Great job, hut looks bloody fantastic.
Thanks for the write up, love the history.

@Murray N
I have an original old swanni here about 50+ age and an original NZFS map of the area showing pack tracks to the hut as they were then. PM me if interested.

PM Sent

Hasnt come thru. Try again please.

Brilliant.
Have walked through and past it Pre restoration many times.
Well done team.
B

Hi Murray
I have a old working kero lantern that I would be happy to donate to the hut project
Cheers
Rod

Hi Ruger 7 mm ,

Thank You , that would be very welcome , we are flying in Sunday 17 th for the final Restoration Trip , if you could PM your contact details .

Great rifle caliber as well .

Murray N

@Murray N the effort you and the team have put into restoring that hut is simply awesome, well done! I’ve read a few books about the old days when Ngamatea had the grazing rights to various watersheds within the Kaimanawas and Kawekas, and naturally Golden Hills featured heavily in that literature. So when I eventually hunted golden hills for the first time I was pretty gutted to see the hut in such a dilapidated state. But it’s great that the Trust have recognised it’s rich history and initiated it’s restoration. Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!

Some pics from a spring hunt in 2014, hut was in terrible shape back then..

Thanks 7.62 for putting up your photos from 2014 , the Hut had deteriorated further in 2017 when we flew in to carry out a survey of the huts condition as to weather it was still possible to restore , it has always been my view that regardless of the huts condition , these old historical huts must be restored and preserved , even if they no longer exist we only need a photo or sketch to rebuild as per original .

On the 17 th January Lloyd , Hamish and I flew in for the final Restoration trip , Bob was unable to make it due to illness , which was unfortunate as Bob had been on 4 previous trips and had made a big contribution to the Restoration , we flew out on the 22 nd .

I had put out a call on the forum for any items members where willing to donate to the Restoration that would be displayed inside the Hut , Forum members Ruger 7 mm and Woody both offered items which was greatly appreciated , I had never met Woody but had arranged to meet at his place 7 am on my way to Heli Sika , Woody had set up 2 tables with items all neatly laid out to donate to the Restoration , although i had limited time to talk with Woody it was obvious Woody had spent most of his life in the outdoors both working and hunting and had been following the Restoration progress with interest .

Woody all your items are now displayed inside the hut along side items we recovered during the Restoration , your billys are hanging from the split beech rafters as is your kerosene lantern , your swannies are laid out on old shelving supported by manuka , as are your old Outdoor magazines from 1948 , the old pipes and tobacco tins are fixed to the cubboard , the items displayed have added to the special atmosphere inside the Hut ,thanks Woody , i do hope you get your wish to spend a few nights at Old Golden Hill Hut .

Ruger 7 mm there is a special place set aside for your Lantern .

Thanks members for your support , i will write up my report when time allows .

Murray N

Thanks for the update @Murray N. I’m 100% with you on the need to restore and maintain iconic huts like Golden Hills. They are reminders of our rich backcountry history; whether it be mustering sheep in wild and far flung corners, or epic deer culling missions, theses old huts were used as a base by a plethora of outdoorsmen during an era that is now long gone.

Also kudos to @Woody and @Ruger7mm, really generous of you guys to donate some items to the hut to recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era.