Historic Black Spur Slab Hut
Management
Clarence Reserve, South Marlborough Area Office, Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy, Department of Conservation.
Fabric
This well built, 6 metre by 3 metre, hut is of split and axe-dressed poplar slabs over a poplar pole frame. The slab joints are battened with poplar poles and packed with clay. A corrugated iron roof has replaced its original canvas one. Similarly corrugated iron has replaced the original stacked stone chimney which collapsed in the 1960s.It has one four pane window and door in the eastern wall. The hut was substantially repaired in the 1970s at which time the earth floor was replaced by concrete and bunks reduced from ten to four.
Black Spur is cleverly sited on a small flat in a grove of old Lombardy Poplars on a tight bend of the Black Rock Stream 200metres above its junction with the Seymour Stream. It is hidden from the Seymour by a low volcanic spur (Black Spur).
History
This hut which is also known as Black Creek Hut, Black Rock Creek Hut, was built for shepherds' accommodation during tupping. The exact date of building is not known but sources suggest about 1928. It has been substantially repaired during the 1970s and 80s by Allan Flint (Kaikoura) who had the use of it for recreation at that time. Pastoralism and farming.
Black Spur Slab Hut (built 1927)
Fabric significance
A good example of once common back-country hut type. Construction is consistent with most slab huts of this era although the use of pole battens is a less common variation. Of local if not regional significance.
Historic significance
This building is an integral part of the unique history and pastoral management of the Clarence Reserve and of a now comparatively rare type. One of a significant group of early huts on the Reserve.
Future management
Black Spur Hut is occasionally used as accommodation. It will be maintained to protect its historic fabric and minimise deterioration. A conservation plan has been prepared to guide its management (Ian Bowan, 1995) and this contains more information about the hut.
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