Vandals in Rylstone have destroyed months of hard work by a local family to restore a 19th Century shepherd’s hut for public use.
Rod Leffley from Rylstone said he and his family had been restoring Birds Hut, a building that is next to Wollemi National Park, and had been in his family for five generations.
“It was built in 1880 and we were redoing it with the aim that campers would be able to use it for overnight stays. But we’re not sure that will be happening anymore,” Mr Leffley said.
Mr Leffley said that sometime in the past two weeks, vandals entered the property on the Olinda Road near Dunns Swamp and “went on a rampage”, destroying hand hewn slab walls and smashing windows.
“The building has been so severely damaged that, after receiving advice from professionals, we’re considering demolishing it,” Mr Leffley said.
Owners Ben and Jessie Leffley are great-great-grandchildren on the original pioneer and builder, Richard Bird, and have posted a substantial reward for the successful prosecution of the offenders.
Bird Hut was to be used as an exhibition space for the 2015 Kandos Cementa Art Exhibition but Mr Leffley said it was now doubtful that the space could still be used.
If you have any information about the vandalism, contact Mudgee Local Area Command.
Source: http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2879416/hut-may-be-demolished-after-vandals-rampage/#slide=1
