a little bit of Family History

Fred's horse outside Jans Hut 1940/41

Hello all
I thought I would add a site to show a little bit of family history.
(click on the pictures for larger view)
Jans Hut (also known as Staggs Hut) was built by Fred (Curly) Jans in the summer of 1940.
The original Hut built a little closer to Mustering Flat on Baw Baw Plateau was destroyed in 1939 when the '39 wildfires swept the area.
Fred had 611 head of cattle on the Plateau when the fires hit with only 8 surviving the fires.

Fred at the Stables adjacent to Jans Hut

 Fred took over the 60,000 acre Alpine Grazing Lease in 1913, moving cattle between his 777 acre property at Traralgon West and the high country.

The Jans property at Traralgon West adjacent to Latrobe Valley Airport

Fred Jans carried the iron to build the hut on packhorse via Mushroom Rocks on Mt Erica, later slaughtering the old packhorses for food and to feed the cattle dogs during the long stays on the mountain.

Mustering on Baw Baw Plateau

 

Fred Jans had three daughters, and no sons to help from on the farm and leases. Fred's nephew Norman (Bluey) was sent to help. Norman helped with the leases until Fred passed away in 1946 after a long illness due to a fall from a horse.

Packhorses in the snow at Mushroom Rocks

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norman continued with Fred's Lease until it expired in 1958. The Lease was then taken up by the Stagg Family from Maffra until the leasehold was revoked in 1972 with the formation of the National Park.

Horse breastbone still hangs on the chimney of the hut

Jans Hut is unusual in the fact it has the inside walls lined with timber on two sides, probably as insulation from the cold.

Timber lining still in good condition in 2005

unfinished...............to be continued