Memorial Hut Melaleuca, Tasmania, Australia
By gooseandegg on 08-Sep-18. Waypoint GA12972

The Charles King Memorial Hut was built by Deny King and members of the Hobart Walking Club in 1959-61 and was named in honour of Deny’s father. The second hut was built by Deny King in 1974-75 with assistance from bushwalking clubs. The Charles King Memorial Hut is of historic heritage value, while the other hut is of probable social heritage and recreational value. As noted by Parham and Terry (2010), “the distinctive forms of the bushwalkers’ huts, along with the King/Fenton residence are a signature feature of the place... the Charles King Memorial Hut is of high significance demonstrating the growth of popularity of bushwalking in the southwest and Deny King’s relationship with visitors to Melaleuca”. Both bushwalkers huts are built of corrugated iron in the Nissen style, to match that of Deny's private residence built in 1946.

Cassiterite (tin oxide) was discovered in the bank above Melaleuca Creek in 1935. Following this discovery, the New Harbour Company was set up. Production started in 1936 with a labour force of 19 people. Accommodation was built at what is now Deny King’s garden. The company was disbanded in 1937. The lease was sold to Eric Brock who continued to work the mine over the next two years. Charles George King took over the mining lease in 1941 and was joined in 1945 by his daughter, Win, and son, Deny, who worked the mine until 1985 when he was 76. 

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