Cootapatamba Hut

Cootapatamba Hut is a survival shelter in the river valley south of Mount Kosciuszko, in the Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, Australia.

Cootapatamba Hut
A skier rests outside Cootapatamba Hut in late September 2010
Cootapatamba Hut
Coordinates	36°28′39.2″S 148°15′22.2″E
Country	Australia
State/territory	New South Wales
National park	Kosciuszko National Park
Construction
Built for	Emergency and day shelter
Administration
Maintained by	NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Accessibility
Accessed by	Foot or skis

The hut was originally built by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority,^[1][2] previously known as the Snowy Mountains Authority (SMA), in the 1950s, as part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme^[2][3]. The hut was placed strategically in the river valley to catch people leaving the summit of Mount Kosciusko in poor weather, where the path down the valley would appear to head to safer areas, despite it leading into deeper wilderness^[1]. The bright red paint means the hut is clearly visible from Mount Kosciusko.^[4]

In early 2019 the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPSW) inspected the hut and decided that it should be rebuilt. Due to the hut being heritage listed, the design had to comply with strict heritage guidelines. In February and March 2019, the old hut was moved. A new frame, using steel supports, was concreted into position. By April 2019, following multiple setbacks, including bushfires and gale-force winds, the new replica hut was completed.^[5]

The hut has two entrances: One from a door at ground level, and another on the roof to access the hut in deep snow.^[6][1]