Moreys Beach Hut - TAS

Moreys Beach Hut or Schouten Island Huts.This was the first house built by graziers in 1900, and is supplemented by the “green” house in front which was built around 1910. From 1805, the island was inhabited by whalers who were very active in the area, with more than 17 different whaling sites in the Greater Oyster Bay area, between what is now Swansea and Coles Bay. Grazing commenced in the early 1900’s, expanding to nearly 300 acres, and continued until the lease ceased in 1969. In 1977, the island was included in the National Park.Past history included some interesting interspaces with attempts at mining for both tin and coal by Chinese miners, but attempts to mine coal in the 1840’s using convict labour, never eventuated.