Tucked away among trees behind Hine Road, this small old building raises an interesting question. Is it simply an old bach, or could it have started life as an army hut?
In its modern form, the building looks like a batch or outbuilding, but it has been altered over the years, with patchwork cladding, weathered timber, corrugated iron repairs, and signs of long use.
However, an older resident of Wainuiomata called it an army hut in his recollections and earlier photo from the 1950s gives the question more weight. In that image, the building has several features that support the idea that it may have been a reused military or camp hut. Its long, narrow rectangular form, raised timber piles, simple weatherboard cladding, plain gable roof, and basic end door are all consistent with a hut that could have been moved or repurposed after wartime use.
