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Fern Grove and Fern Lea

DESCRIPTION

Location Known Construction 1891 Status Remnants

HISTORY

HERITAGE VALUES

Historic, Scientific, Archeological, Aesthetic

HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

McConnell assessed this hut as having High Medium-High Local Significance, Some State Significance individually and as part of the suite and Some National Significance

SOURCES

The Huts of kunanyi/Mount Wellington - Maria Grist

Fern Retreat Timeline

The Fernlea hut was built c. 1905. A collapse of the balcony was reported in 1905, due to a large party enjoying themselves there, but nobody was seriously injured. Fernlea was replaced by Fern Grove in 1907-8. Built by the Fernlea crowd, it was a distance up the same gully. The design was modelled after a double decker tram. A nice photo appeared in the Sydney Mail in 1911.

The visitors’ book shows visitors arriving from all over the country to see this spot. Glowing reports were written.

“The surroundings of the Hut are sublime.”

“The prittyest and the best Hut I have ever seen in my life.”

“On leaving Melbourne I was informed that Tasmania was the most glorious place on God’s earth & without a doubt The Hut & surrounding prove that Statement up to the hilt.”

“If I can spend each day of a month’s holiday in different Tasmanian surroundings as pretty, I shall leave Hobart with the firm assurance that Hobart was the next place God made after Sydney.”

Location: Known

Construction date: 1905 (Fernlea) 1907 (Fern Grove)

Status: Remnants