Scammells Ridge Lookout
The original lookout was built in about 1961 by the Snowy
Mountains Authority and was upgraded for the Queen's visit in 1963.
It has since been substantially improved by the National Parks
and Wildlife Service with the addition of the viewing platform,
landscaping and changes to the car park.
Scammells Ridge
Despite its name, the lookout is not on Scammells Ridge but
2.5km to the south. The ridge was named after the Scammell family
who were among the early selectors in the Khancoban area during
the 1860s.
The Scammells used the ridge, which runs north-east, as access for
the summer grazing of cattle in areas such as Pretty Plain in
the upper reaches of the Tooma River.
Hannels Spur
The track up Hannels Spur to the alpine zone was cut in the mid-1920s
to take cattle up to the area around Mt. Townsend. This avoided
having to take the stock through Dead Horse Gap and up via the
Rams Head Range above what is now Thredbo Village.
A 1940s photo of riders descending Hannels Spur
The work was organised by Kerry Pierce who was in partnership with
Alf Hannel. The route was chosen by Leo Byatt, a well-known local
stockman. An area below Abbott Ridge is still marked on maps as
Byatts Camp.
The track was about 2.5m wide and the thick scrub on either side
kept the stock contained.
According to a stockman who used the track, Errol Scammell, the
cattle were reluctant to make the climb.
The track has become overgrown but the route down to Geehi is
often used by bushwalkers.
It's hard to read the credits for the photos.
The photo of the Queen appears to come from the Snowy Mountains Authority.
The other is undecipherable.