The History of Jack’s Hut – An Original South Island Shepherd’s Hut
Jack’s Hut has been a cherished part of the Mackay family since the early 1930s. Originally owned by John Sutherland Mackay (Jack), the son of an Ayrshire Scot, the hut began its journey on the South Island before making its way to its present location overlooking the stunning Lake Tarawera.
In 1930, Jack secured a farming block in West Otago through a ballot. Though he wasn’t the initial winner, fate played a hand when the first name drawn belonged to a South Island alpine guide who forfeited his claim due to work commitments. Jack named his farm "Montana" after spotting the name in Swiss mail and liking its sound.
The land was rugged and untamed, with just a single tree, no fences, and vast expanses of wild tussock. Situated 2,500 feet above sea level, Montana faced harsh weather conditions and lacked basic utilities such as mains power, telephone, and running water. At the time, New Zealand was struggling through the Great Depression, with plummeting exports, rising unemployment, and drastically reduced wool prices. To survive, Jack operated as a grazier rather than a traditional farmer, supplementing his income by working on other properties. His first car was funded entirely by trapping and selling rabbit pelts, a lucrative industry in the 1930s. Back then, 100 rabbits fetched around $2—the equivalent of $100 today and as they were in plague proportions back then a 100 rabbits was easily acheived.
For five years, Jack lived in a simple shepherd’s hut until he married Margaret, at which point he connected two huts to create a modest home. As their family grew, additional recycled huts served as bedrooms for their children. The hut you are staying in today was the original dwelling at Montana, where Jack and Margaret began their life together—hence, it became affectionately known as the "honeymoon hut."
Margaret and Jack had four children, but tragedy struck when Margaret passed away during childbirth, along with their fifth baby. In 1944, Jack remarried Muriel, a devoted caregiver who had spent years nursing her parents. Though she had no children of her own, she embraced the challenge of raising Jack’s children in the remote and demanding environment at Montana.
Over the years, the Mackay family prospered, gaining respect within the farming community. What once was barren land transformed into a flourishing property with 500 acres of trees and a peak capacity of 10,000 stock units. Jack’s eldest son, John Mackay, followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming president of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association. However, as the third generation pursued opportunities abroad, the farm was eventually sold in the 1990s.
The "honeymoon hut" remained at Montana until 2018, when David and Angela Mackay relocated it 1,500 kilometers to its current home at Lake Tarawera. Today, this historic hut provides guests with a unique opportunity to escape modern life and immerse themselves in a piece of New Zealand’s pastoral heritage.
Inside, you’ll find remnants of its rich past: a tin where Muriel once saved pennies and threepence pieces for the church collection, the stock from Jack’s original gun used to hunt the rabbits that funded his first car, and a wooden cutlery tray handcrafted by Jack himself.
Jack’s Hut is more than just a place to stay—it’s a living testament to resilience, hard work, and the enduring spirit of the early settlers of New Zealand.
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