Discover the stories behind Dinner Plain and the High Country, from it aboriginal ancestors, to pioneers, gold miners, and cattleman. Surround yourself in history as you explore the Cattleman’s huts and learn the rich heritage of the region.
The History of Dinner Plain
The freehold land on which Dinner Plain Village stands is part of the land that was originally owned by the McNamara’s – Omeo graziers. They had been granted a selection purchase lease over the 571 acre lot after the holder of the former grazing lease; Mathew Rundell had left the district for Bendigo around 1908. The last of the McNamara’s – Thomas Kevin – died in 1963 and the land was sold to Godfrey Crisp who lived in Omeo.
Gold was discovered in north east Victoria in the 1850’s. Miners flocked to the area to work claims in almost every creek and up to the sub alpine area close to Dinner Plain. In 1883 a road across the Alps from Omeo to Bright was completed. A weekly horse drawn coach service operated in summer months around 1900. They would stop for a midday meal at Dinner Plain – hence the name.
Dinner Plain village was developed in 1986 by a company called Dinner Plain Pty Ltd. Peter McIntyre, the company architect, was inspired by the characteristics of the old cattlemen’s huts.
Dinner Plain is a distinctive village in Australia’s only freehold land above the snowline. The homes, apartments and lodges reflect the heritage of the early pioneer buildings in the Victorian Alpine High Country. Built of stone, timber and corrugated iron and often boasting magnificent stone fireplaces, each blends in beautifully with the surrounding snow gums and the high plains landscape.
In The Beginning
Dinner Plain Village was officially opened in 1986 by then deputy premier Robert Fordham. At the time of opening the village was home to the Dinner Plain Hotel and several chalets.
Along with construction of the Dinner Plain Hotel in 1986, there was also “Fords” now known as High Plains Lodge which owned by department store owners in Bairnsdale along with six other houses in the village. The original houses are still standing in Dinner Plain although some have changed names over the years including:
- Wattle Circle (Chamonix) - 1671 Drybone Lane
- Jackie Johnson - 165 Big Muster and 156 Big Muster
- Belltrees - 147 Geebung Road
- Rivendell - 146 Geebung Road
- Hinnomunjie - next to the Dinner Plain Hotel
The Dinner Plain Hotel license was the first to be issued in Victoria for 100 years in 1986. The opening plaque at the hotel states the opening date as June 8, 1986.
Geoff Hencke and his wife Gwyneth Molony ran the family business of Molony’s Ski Hire in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne together with the ski lifts at Falls Creek. They then opened the first ski hire/pharmacy in Dinner Plain in 1986. Molony’s Ski Hire was sold to MHSC in 2006 and renamed Pinnacle.
The developers, Dinner Plain Pty Ltd were fortunate to have many connections in the ski industry and government, they also had the expertise of architect, Peter McIntyre. Peter McIntryre's design of the Village features buildings architecturally inspired by the characteristics of the old cattlemen's huts.
Construction in the village is still restricted to timber, local stone and corrugated iron, with a limited range of colours approved. Strict covenants limit such detractions as antennae, fences and washing lines, and all buildings are subject to height restrictions.
The architectural success of Dinner Plain has since led to the development of the Australian Alpine style, which is now being adopted as a benchmark by all other alpine resorts in Australia.
The Huts at Dinner Plain
During the summer of 2003 a number of fires swept through the Australian alps. Some historic huts were burnt and many remain as ruins, so if planning to visit a hut please first check its status with Parks Victoria or the Visitor Information Centre in the village.
Visiting the Huts
- Enjoy visiting the huts but please do not use them for overnight accommodation.
- Huts are for temporary refuge only.
- Leave the hut clean and secure.
- If you must use the fireplace, check the fire is out and close the doors and windows securely.
- Don’t leave emergency food stores in the hut as they clutter up the hut and encourage rats.
- For further information: www.hutsvictoria.org.au
CRB Hut
CRB Hut is located on the northern side of the Great Alpine Road, across from the main entrance to the village.
CRB Hut was built in 1923 -1925 and is known to have survived the Black Friday fires in 1939.
The hut is protected by a heritage order.
JB Hut
JB Hut is located on JB Plain, just 2km west of Dinner Plain on the Great Alpine Road.
The hut is believed to have been built in the 1940’s for forestry use and was relocated to JB Plain in the 1970’s.
Boggy Creek Hut
Boggy Creek Hut is another CRB Hut built between 1923 - 1925 located 6km along the Great Alpine Road heading towards Omeo.
Wire Plain Hut
Mr Billy Howard, a mountain cattleman from the Ovens district built this hut in 1962.
Part of the hut was prefabricated and brought in by truck and the back of the hut was built on site to house saddles and a water tank.
Silver Brumby Hut
The Silver Brumby Hut at Mt Hotham was built as a set prop for the movie “The Silver Brumby” in 1993. The hut was rebuilt in 2008.
Hut information supplied courtesy of 'Victoria's Alpine Heritage Huts of the High Plains' by Fiona Magnussen.