July 9, 2026

Round Mountain Hut: The Final Chapter in the Kosciuszko Huts Rebuild Program

For generations, the historic huts scattered throughout Kosciuszko National Park have preserved the stories of early miners and stockman and have been treasured destinations for walkers, skiers, riders and adventurers. When the devastating 2019–20 bushfires destroyed 11 of these iconic structures, it marked the beginning of an extraordinary restoration effort.

Round Mountain Hut is the final hut to be rebuilt as part of the Kosciuszko Huts Rebuild Program, bringing this remarkable chapter of conservation to a close.

Originally built by grazier John Pierce in 1913 before burning in 1952, the hut was rebuilt the following year by Irish builder Jack Bailey for graziers Faulkner and Whitehead. Bailey's distinctive construction included horizontally laid corrugated iron and one of the few snow hatches found on any hut in the park—a clever feature allowing entry through the chimney during heavy winter snowfalls.

Like many of the mountain huts, Round Mountain was originally built to support summer grazing. Every piece of timber and corrugated iron was hauled into the mountains by horse along rough tracks before becoming an essential base for stock work in the surrounding high country. Following the end of alpine grazing, the hut found a new life serving bushwalkers and skiers exploring the spectacular Jagungal Wilderness region.

The rebuilding of Round Mountain Hut also marks the culmination of years of work undertaken by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Kosciuszko Huts Association, descendant families and volunteers. Beginning shortly after the 2019-20 bushfires, the program carefully documented each damaged site before rebuilding huts that held outstanding historical and social significance.

Throughout the series, viewers have followed the restoration of Sawyers Rest House, Delanys Hut, Vickerys Hut, Four Mile Hut, Brooks Hut, Happys Hut, Bradley & O'Briens Hut, Harveys Hut, Linesmans Hut and finally Round Mountain Hut. Every rebuild combined traditional craftsmanship with modern fire protection while remaining true to each hut's original character.

For Project Manager Megan Bowden, one of the most rewarding moments came not from the buildings themselves, but from watching families return to places that had shaped their lives. Seeing descendants walk through the rebuilt huts—many for the first time since the fires—reinforced that this project was about far more than timber and corrugated iron. It was about preserving memories, traditions and the deep connections people have with the Snowy Mountains.

Just as importantly, the program has helped pass on traditional construction techniques that are becoming increasingly rare. Skills such as slab splitting, log cabin construction and heritage timber work have been shared with a new generation, ensuring the knowledge required to care for these historic structures continues well into the future.

Today, these huts remain much more than emergency shelters. They are living museums, places of remembrance and enduring symbols of Australia's alpine heritage.

As Round Mountain Hut stands once again, it brings the rebuild program to a fitting close—ensuring the legacy of the Kosciuszko huts will continue to inspire generations who venture into the High Country for many years to come.

Tom's Outdoors wish to thank Megan Bowden, Roger Rosenboom and Peter Dow for their generous access in documenting this rebuild.

Series filmed and edited by Dean Johnson

Missed some of the previous chapters? The full series is linked below and free to watch on the Tom's Outdoors YouTube channel:

Part 1: The Rest House at Sawyers Hill