Victors Hut

From Wellington Park Report

The Temple is a set of terraces and hut. The historical information is all anecdotal (Bidwell 2005, Errey 2005, Leaman 2005, Massie 2005, Squires 1998). According to Squires (1998) the main hut was built soon after the 1967 bushfires by Victor. Tom Errey visited the site in the 1960s (& noted that Victor had an 'open door' policy), but did not say if this was before or after the fires (Errey 2005). Squires (1998) writes that a 2-storey hut was built on one of 4-5 terraces formed on the mountain side and at the end of the terrace was a lean-to workshop. On the same level was a bunk house built on stilts and painted to blend in with the trees. In late 1960s-1970s the place had one cultivated terrace, a row of small pines, 2 bee hives, a gate, a benched track and a 'man-made waterhole'. When Robin Errey visited post-1960s there were strawberries growing in the garden area (Errey 2005).

According to Macfie 'The Temple' was built c.1970; the main cottage was stone walled, of 2 storeys and had a corrugated iron roof; the complex covered an area of 70-80 sq m; all materials were carted in; a visitors book was kept; and the place was known to some bushwalkers as 'Xanadu'.

The origin of the clearing and use of the area is unknown. Squires (1998) believes the area was initially developed as part of logging in the area but has no hard evidence. Other information suggests that there was some other development there prior to the 1960s (Errey 2005) and that is that the area was first established during or immediately after WWII by a sect but was abandoned well before Victor built his house there (Massie 2005). This would fit with the name 'Theosophical Temple' given by WPMT (1985).

The Temple was burned down in c.1980 (WPMT 1985 notes it was burned down in Oct 1984) Hut 2 Built c.1984 by Victor after 'The Temple' was burned down, also in c.1984. Approx 500m from The Temple. In c.1988 Victor is said to have become a priest and returned to Ukraine (Squires).

Leaman (2005) noted that it is his understanding that this location is Victor's Hut and that Victor's Hut 2 is the Temple.

There is also a page on the List the mountain site   see below