The Manson Nicholls Memorial Hut is set to be rebuilt with an emphasis on accessibility.

Located on the shore of Lake Daniell in Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, the existing hut was completed in 1976 to commemorate three trampers who died in the area in 1974, when a landslide destroyed the Lake Daniell Fishing Club Hut.

DOC works officer Cameron Jones said the new hut will be ideal for people who may not have tramped before, school groups and families, and the design will include features to improve accessibility for users of all ages.

“These include having lower bench heights and basins for children, grab rails in the toilets, decks flush with hut floor level, lower heights for some of the bunks and doorways and sufficient space inside to allow people in a wheelchair to manoeuvre inside the hut,” he said.

“DOC recognises the health benefits of people being out in nature and the need to create more opportunities for a wider range of people to experience the many benefits of time outdoors. Access to nature benefits individuals across every stage of the life span.”

The existing hut was scheduled to be demolished after Easter, and its replacement is expected to be completed by the end of February 2020, with a campsite adjacent to the site remaining open for use.

The Manson Nicholls Memorial Hut is a three-hour tramp from Marble Hill Campsite on the Lake Daniell Track.