Small ‘rabbit huts’ may be simple, but the history within is priceless

People power and a fierce desire to ensure that almost a century of history is not lost have helped save a tiny hut in remote Queensland.

Not much bigger than a thunderbox, rabbit huts were used as accommodation for boundary riders patrolling the region’s iconic rabbit-proof fence. 

Nine remain along almost 555 kilometres of fence across southern Queensland. Many have fallen into disrepair or have been converted to modern facilities.

Late last year, an original hut at Western Creek near Millmerran, 200km west of Brisbane, was demolished — the decision came due to fire damage and its lease ending with the Darling Downs-Moreton Rabbit Board (DDMRB).

It was a sight the Millmerran and District Historical Society didn’t want to see again. 

“When it was brought to our attention at the society, we realised that a considerable chunk of our local history had just left,” president Christine Turner said. 

“We experienced a real loss when that happened.” 

The volunteer group put out a call on social media and to the DDMRB, demanding a second hut nearby called Gray’s Gate be preserved.

The three-by-two-metre iron shack is simple – a stove, chimney and guttering running to a water tank — but the history within is priceless.

The social media post received a flurry of support from surrounding locals. 

Gray’s Gate hut sits several kilometres out of town on DDMRB land, unlike Western Creek, and has a similar “shonky” build which Ms Turner said took locals back in time. 

“The huts are a perfect example if you want to honour and safeguard our cultural identity,” she said. 

“If we want to bare witness to the lives and experience of those people who use those buildings, then we need to preserve them.”

Ms Turner said the historical society and DDMRB would meet to decide on a Gray’s Gate management program. 

It was a win historical groups did not get often, she said. 

“These old buildings bring a sense of place and continuity in the world that’s changing so quickly.

“They anchor communities to their roots and they create a shared understanding of local history.”

A sign for history tours is planned to mark where the Western Creek hut stood.

Rabbits on the hit list since 1800s

They may not be called boundary riders anymore, but the work of rabbit eradication has not changed much according to the region’s rabbit board. 

The first boundary riders, along with the chief inspector, were hired in 1896 for the fence’s erection between Dalveen and Warra in southern Queensland. 

Today, there are about 10 staff on the DDMRB’s books ranging from patrol officers to maintenance staff. 

“We have about half a dozen staff whose primary job is to run the entirety of the fence every week,” DDMRB chief executive Craig Magnussen said. 

“They’ve each got a section of fence that they look after, and within that week they’ll get across the whole run and patch holes or replace foot netting.

“It’s very similar work.”

As for the huts, Mr Magnussen said the majority hadn’t been used for several decades. 

“Having said that, a couple of them have been used recently — and one gets used today,” he said. 

“With greater reliability, 4WD vehicles and side-by-side buggies, we don’t have much need for our staff to camp out on their runs.”

For the staff who do still camp regularly, a more modern donga has taken the place of the rabbit hut. 

Still a problem

Rabbits remain one of the country’s major pests, costing approximately $200 million annually. 

The highest populations in Queensland are in the Granite Belt and south-west, according to federal government data. 

Moderate populations remain across the Maranoa to the Darling Downs. 

Mr Magnussen said historical societies in Queensland helped preserve the history of the rabbit-proof fence. 

“We really appreciate [the Millmerran historical society] reaching out and the opportunity it brings to help preserve some of their history,” he said. 

“We’re very cognisant of the history of our organisation; we’ve been going in one form or another for 130 years.

“It’s a lot of infrastructure that’s really challenging to maintain and justify continued spending money on, so any help we can get in that regard is very much welcome.”