Help Rebuild Fisherman’s Hut on Phillip Island

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle tracked across Norfolk Island last weekend on 11 & 12 February 2023, and as locals cleaned up damage gardens and trees and hoped that friends and family had not had too much damage, news was shared on Thursday about the Fisherman’s Hut at Phillip Island.

It has been reported that the Fisherman’s Hut at Phillip Island has also been damaged, blown to pieces, which just shows the strength of the storm. Images on Facebook show that the timber walls have been blown down and all the many years of great times at Phillip Island has been destroyed by TC Gabrielle.

Many locals and visitors will be sad to see the posts on Facebook and a crowd funding has started to raise money to rebuild “Iconic Hut”. Imagine the stories that can be told by those who have stayed there or those who built the hut. There will plenty of “dem do tell” stories to share.

The Fisherman’s Hut was used by fisherman and bird and environmental researchers when staying at Phillip Island which is 6km or 7km south of Norfolk Island, the larger island looking out to sea from Kingston.

It will be strange when sitting at Kingston at night looking South to Phillip Island and not seeing the lights on. But the lights will burn again, I am sure the next generation will get together and rebuild a strong building and will anchor it down and design it so future cyclones and storms can hopefully not blow it apart.

Please Help Rebuild Norfolk’s Iconic Hut!!

Since the 70’s/80’s, the Phillip Island Hut has been enjoyed by young and old, past and present, it held precious life long memories and history.

On the 11th February 2023, cyclone Gabrielle passed over Norfolk Island and after thinking our little island made it through with minimal damage, it was discovered that this in fact was not the case for our historical hut out on Phillip Island.

The hut was built and maintained through donations and the hard work of volunteers, with many people loosing personal and irreplaceable sentimental items. Stories from trips to the hut were immortalised on the walls and roof not just in memories.

Please help us raise the money to rebuild what once stood a brilliant community place that the community enjoyed.

Give our future generations the opportunity to experience and enjoy what we had the pleasure of.

Anything great or small would mean so much.

From the bottoms of our hearts, we say thank you!

As I write this article $4,620 has been donated to this special fundraiser.

Fundraiser by Brogan Evans : Please Help Rebuild Norfolk’s Iconic Hut!! (gofundme.com)

If you would like to see images of Phillip Island and the fisherman hut, check out these internet links, plus I have shared details from the Norfolk Island National Park online page.

It is interesting to see how challenging it is to land on this amazing red island and the work that has been done over the years to make it safer to walk up the tracks and cliffs to reach the fisherman hut and then explore the island which is the home of many sea birds and other flora and fauna.

Phillip Island (Norfolk Island): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (tripadvisor.com.au)

Phillip Island | Norfolk Island National Park (parksaustralia.gov.au)

Phillip Island

Six kilometres south of Norfolk is Phillip Island – part of the Norfolk Island National Park and a birdwatcher’s paradise.

Every year, thousands of migratory seabirds breed on Phillip Island, including masked boobies, black-winged petrels, sooty terns and black noddies.

The island is free of any predators, making it an ideal place for these beautiful birds to nest among rare and endangered plants.

Phillip Island’s contoured landscape is quite unusual – a century of erosion and degradation has exposed a dazzling array of red, yellow, and pink soils.

Visiting Phillip Island

Phillip Island is an adventurer’s paradise and just getting off the boat at the landing spot can be a challenge. Accessing the island also requires an exhilarating climb on rope ladders followed by a trek over steep inclines.

But the effort is well worth it to be rewarded with epic views and the chance to get close to thousands of nesting seabirds.

Access to the island is weather-dependant and an experienced guide is required at all times.

To organise a visit, please contact the Norfolk Island Visitors Information Centre.

Above are the links to the Go Fund Me page and I have also included a the photo of the damaged Fisherman’s Hut.

Betty Matthews

February 2023