Curnows Hut
New toilet constructed August 2016
Accommodation
Hut,
'Walk-in' site,
Water Tank
'Walk-in' site,
Water Tank
Water Tank Level
Mapsheet
Mapsheet 5A, Spalding to Hiskeys Hut
Guidebook
Northern Guidebook, chapter 1, map 4
Location
Bundaleer
Coordinates
Contact
Friends of the Heysen Trail. Ph (+61 8) 8212 6299.
This hut is maintained by Friends of the Heysen Trail volunteers and reserved for Heysen Trail walkers and Mawson Trail cyclists. It is located on private property and not accessible to vehicles or caravans.
This hut is maintained by Friends of the Heysen Trail volunteers and reserved for Heysen Trail walkers and Mawson Trail cyclists. It is located on private property and not accessible to vehicles or caravans.
Bookings
No. The hut has a combination lock (installed in October 2017) . To access, press C (for clear) and then the code number is 5491.
Fees
No.
Facilities
Hut - hut, bunks, water, fireplace, toilet, table, seating. Camp ground - fire pits, tables, toilet (new toilet constructed August 2016), water
History
Bundaleer Forest was the first plantation forest in South Australia, and also the "birthplace of forestry in Australia". There was early concern that the State's precious native forest cover, never abundant, would be lost forever in the rush to find building materials. From 1873 the South Australian Parliament passed various acts to encourage the planting of forest trees, and in 1876 'Plantation A' - the first forest - was planted at Bundaleer. Many tree species - natives and exotics - were planted to see which would thrive in local conditions, and be commercially useful. Many of these trees, now a century and a quarter old, can still be seen at Bundaleer. The most successful product was the Radiata pine, today widely used in construction. There are other plantations along the Heysen Trail, at Kuitpo Forest and Mt Crawford Forest, but the vast majority of plantations of Pinus Radiatus are in the State's South-East. The first nurseryman at Bundaleer was John Curnow, whose cottage, known as Curnows Hut, is located near the original nursery. The timber from this plantation was used to build Spencer Gulf jetties, railway sleepers and in Broken Hill’s mines.
Notes
Curnows Hut has been reopened following the 2013 bushfires.
The original toilet was destroyed in the bushfire).
A permanent toilet was installed at the campsite/hut by the Friends of the Heysen Trail in March 2016.
Curnows Hut remains open to walkers. Much of te land in the former Bundaleer Forest has been transferred to private ownership.
The property on which the hut is located remains on Crown Land as paet of the Bundaleer Greenway.
My husband tried to stay there on 20 April and arrived to find 5 families who had driven in to take up residence for the night. Unfortunately there was no space for him as a Heysen Trail hiker and he had to trudge on through horrid weather for another 27kms to get to Georgetown. I wasn’t with him so unsure if it’s a designated “Heysen only” hut, however it is advertised on other SA camping sites so be mindful if you’re planning on nearing here around school holidays or public holidays.
Naomi, thank you for letting us know about your husband’s issue regards Curnow’s. Curnow’s is a hut now on private land and managed by the local landowner. We have been in contact with him and the family group there were his family, hence their ability to take vehicles in there. Normally the gate is locked and the hut reserved for walkers. They also tell us they were mostly camped in tents and there was plenty of room in the hut for your husband. I am not sure why he thought there wasn’t.
Another issue is that he was walking the Trail during the Fire ban season, when the Trail is closed over all private land. Bundaleer Forest used to be managed by Forestry SA, however, is now in private hands, the owners of the hut. It is important that walkers abide by the Trail closer over the fire season as we depend upon landowners’ goodwill to allow the Trail across their land.
Site in good shape, clean with all water tanks full after last night’s rain. Both kettles have small leaks but otherwise no damage
Stayed the night of 29/9/22. Plenty of lovely clean water in the tanks, and even toilet paper in the loo! Luxury! Inside the hut was spotless, with a small amount of wood for the fireplace. Many thanks to those that maintain this hut. The swing hanging from a tree out the back, and the picnic table, were the icing on the cake.
FOHT Trail Development team visited the hut on 8/4/2022. Water level in Hut tank approx 95%, toilet tank 95%.
Dear Gregory. It’s not your job to remove fire alarms for others to replace them just because it annoys you whilst you happened to visit. Why not donate to fix up hut vandalism, or pay as you put it pay for the “next service”.
Tanks full. The two smoke detectors began chirping during the night. We removed them, then disabled. They will need replacing when the hut is next serviced.
Stopped off here on walk with E2E11 on Sunday 25/8. Plenty of water in the 2 tanks connected to the hut.
This is a walk in hut/campsite. The gate off Springs Rd is locked and the hut can’t be accessed by cars. There are no fees applicable to staying at the hut.