Peter delighted to visit the hut he designed on summit
WELL-KNOWN and highly respected alpine architect, Peter Mcintyre AO, paid a visit to the Pendergast Hut near the summit of Mount Buller last week, courtesy of the Mount Buller Ski Patrol.
Peter designed the hut not long after SCV member, Buller committee of management member and long-time member of the Ski Rescue Service, Mike Pendergast, died in a motor accident in 1970.
The hut was funded by ski clubs on the mountain, including SCV, with a major donation by Harold and Beryl Doughty, and was a gift to the Ski Rescue Service.
It was built by George Aldinger of Lantern Ski Club.
The hut was badly damaged in a storm in 2005, and its future looked bleak until volunteer ski patrollers - under the guidance of Sam Mcdougall - resurrected it.
They repaired the outside and made substantial improvements to the inside so that Patrollers and essential equipment could be stationed there for upper mountain rescues.
A small sign was made up by Mansfield signwriter Daniel Belle and donated by the Ski Club of Victoria last year and this is outside the entrance.
Mr Mcintyre has had a lifetime in alpine architecture having designed many buildings at Mount Buller, all of Dinner Plain, and numerous major city developments as well.
At 92 Peter is still working full time and has several projects underway at Mount Buller and elsewhere.
His son Robbie skied for Australia in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.
Peter was absolutely thrilled to be taken to and from the Hut by the Mount Buller Ski Patrol recently - luckily Tony Harrington (Harro) was on hand to record the occasion.