I thought I'd do a short summary of what has been impacted by the fires. I'll update this post as I see more or peeps post here as I haven't been following everything (preferably with links to source or discussion in other threads). Mods feel free to edit as needed. So far: NSW: Cabramurra: From @Ozgirl: (Also more: here & here) Mt Selwyn: Has been extensively damaged, extensive discussion on prospects & viability of rebuilding. Perisher & Thredbo: Were under threat, but not hit (yet?) thankfully. All of KNP evacuated (still? See Thredbo thread for more details) Kiandra: Old Courthouse & some other old houses/huts lost, probably also Mathews Cottage? (see below, more discussion) Jindy: Was under threat, unscathed Cooma: Untouched, apart from the water tank that collapsed Tom Groggin: Impacted by fire. Damage? (discussion) Khancoban: ? Geehi: Was evacuated, fire impact below Watsons Crags, see discussion below. Eucumbene Cove: all houses saved. Braemer Bay: ok. Adaminaby: 4 houses lost nearby Berridale: Untouched Tumbarumba: Badly hit, abt 18 houses lost (SMH article) Vic: Dinner Plain: Fire went through, but escaped unscathed somehow. Incredible! Falls Creek: Still under active threat? Mt Hotham: Still under active threat? Mt Buller: "The road still remains closed to most at this stage. Exceptions for CFA and other fire fighting support crews." (from here) Mt Buffalo: Chalet still standing, but obviously vulnerable & not the highest priority to save. Downgraded to "watch & act" (as of Wednesday 8 Jan). Firebreaks being worked on. Lake Mountain: Update: Now fully open again. Corryong: ? Cobungra: Unconfirmed report that there could be up to 5 homes lost in Cobungra area (details). Omeo: Nearby fires but township unscathed so far. Harrietville: Nearby fires but township unscathed so far. Bright: Nearby fires but township unscathed so far. Mt Beauty: Nearby fires but township unscathed so far. Huts: There is now a separate thread in Backcountry for huts: https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/lost-huts-historic-buildings.86668/unread Can others add to this please, especially the Vic stuff?
In Kiandra apparently other huts/old houses are gone as well. I suspect the RMS/TfNSW depot and accom just out of Selwyn is impacted also. Eucumbene Cove all houses saved. Braemer Bay ok.
Evidently above Geehi fire ran up Watsons Crags. Maybe also worth keeping track of the impact on the High Alpine within the National Parks, and routes like AAWT and Hannels Spur Track. AAWT currently closed, Hannels possibly fire affected. In Vic fire proximal to Bluff Hut (fire-break was cut)
Current map has it below the Crags, but they are awaiting aircraft to be able to access and check this. Existing map has it bounded within Geehi river, Verandah Creek and Lay Northcote creek, with a line roughly perpendicular to Lady Northcote creek crossing near N-W end of the Crags, and N-W of the intake towers marked on the topo
For Mt Buffalo, the Facebook page that campaigns for the preservation of the chalet have said that they aren't pressing officials for an update given the overall situation, but they are aware that the chalet is extremely vulnerable to an ember attack and unlikely to be a priority for saving, sadly.
This is incorrect. If you don't want to use my numbers then just say significant losses. Until there is an official release. But 4 is a gross under estimation. The majority of accommodation is gone. if they used Cabra to house Snowy 2 workers, they are in trouble.
AFAIK Snowy 2 workers have mostly been driving in from elsewhere up to now and there hasn’t been an increase in residential numbers at Cabra - rather the opposite.
Fire breaks to protect Dingo Dell and the Chalet are in progress according to this page: https://m.facebook.com/VisitMountBuffalomndk/
Yes they do 4 day rotating rosters and slept overnight there. they don't drive up each day. No permanent residents since 2017. But the 'singles' accommodation (studio apartments) went in the fire. and the majority of the houses.
No news on huts yet, but as @climberman suggests I expect all of Kiandra to have burnt so you can add Matthews Cottage to the Kiandra list.
Little gutted this morning with the news that four mile, Happys and Delaneys huts are confirmed as lost. Delaneys was one of the first huts rebuilt after the 03 Fires and the original family had a lot to do with the rebuild. I met the family on site and they were amazing craftsman and the rebuild truly reflected there work. In fact un officially IMO it resulted in a change to the way huts were rebuilt for the better, with the Parks taking a very active role and reducing the role of a volunteer group that mean well but don’t have skills. Happy’s was a happy place for me, I have very fond memories of spending time there on a wet night, lovely hut. but most sad is the loss of Four Mike, +1 wrote her very first uni assignment and her thesis on the fabric of that hut and I have no idea on how it could be replicated. I guess it depends on what material can be salvaged. I spent my first night on cross country skis at the hut and had my first telemark lesson there, gutted.
Cross posting from the huts thread Some info I've picked up at this stage: Lost: Happys, Brooks, Round Mountain, Bradley O'Brien Intact so far: Tin Mine, Witzes, Hains, Patons, Wheelers, Cascade, Gooandra, Long Plain Many of these have had breaks cut around them
brooks lost? This picture would suggest otherwise albeit pictures can be deceiving but the grapevine is saying it has survived. Patrons and wheelers where not at risk, who is saying Round Mountain has gone? I know the fire maps suggested it was hit and I would be surprised based on the maps that it would survive but I have not heard officially yet.
I would say at this stage Round Mtn is unconfirmed, NPWS and Alps emails suggest it is still there as they mention they are worried it will go on Friday.
Many $$$ spent on new accom for Snowy 2.0. As you drive from the shop up the hill to the lookout it is/was on your right. Roofless in April. Black roof in pic taken last July. Flashy dongas.
Updated OP with info from here & put in a link to the huts thread in backcountry, as skifree said there: Prolly best place for huts info.
Another post re Cabra. So it is the same figure I was given on Monday. Mum also confirmed that 3 of the 5 building of "singles accom" is gone.
So this aerial image was taken on Saturday 4th Jan at 11am and shared via Riverina highlands RFS. you can see the fire front coming in from the should - up from the bottom of the ski club run, which is over the back of the top right of this photo. I am working on a marked up image of what i believe is to be affected.
Okay and here is my drawing of the affected/burnt structures. The ski club is not included nor is the the Edinburgh cottage and scout hall (and maybe one other building/club) as they are out of shot of the image, in the clump of tress to the right of the top yellow circle. The top yellow circle is the "singles" quarters, of which I believe 3 of the 5 have been destroy. the darker building under the top of the circle is the previously shared newer, dongas. However i am not sure if it is truly accom/dongas. seems like a waste of money to me as the rest of the down was empty... (not saying Dongas wont be needed now. But wondering is it was more support buildings for Snowy 2. will check with my contact. The bottom yellow circle is the school. The red is my best guess at the houses lost. Remembering that the fire front travel from the North. yes Cabra was hit by two fire fronts judging by FNM For those not aware these house were 3 story 3 bed house. there was 47 of them (not 45) and it is believed 38 were lost to fire. Please note -contrary to other post i have seen here and other places online. NO one permanently lived in Cabra, and the Snowy Hydro owned these house. no private homes were in Cabra it is purely a corporately owned town.
A little more info on Snowy assets. Hard to pull any real key info from it https://www.tatimes.com.au/snowy-hydro-sites-withstand-blazes/
