The following history is attached from the DOC website, but for further great reading you should seek out the wonderful book "Jack's Hut" by Grace Adams.
Jacks Hut is a rare surviving example of a roadman’s cottage. Built in 1879, the hut is located on New Zealand’s highest altitude main highway.
All early highways were maintained by roadmen who lived with their families in cottages placed along the section they were responsible for. As the motor age and mechanisation arrived, the roadman role disappeared.
Jacks Hut, the only surving roadman's
cottage on the Coast Road
Historic highlights
March 1866: The Coach Road officially opened over Arthur's Pass, linking Canterbury and the West Coast.
1879: Jacks Hut was built near Rough Creek, Arthur's Pass, as a roadman's hut.
1909-1910: The hut was shifted to its present site below the summit of Arthur's Pass.
1923: The rail tunnel opened and the coaching era was over. Jacks Hut is bought by Grace and Guy Butler.
1928: The hut was done up "as a family crib".
1951: A garage was built, which was later converted to a store room/extra bedroom.
2004: Jacks Hut restored.
Hut restored!
Jacks Hut was restored in 2004, thanks to a strong community spirit, and a government budget announced in May 2003 to protect New Zealand's significant historic assets. Jacks Hut had fallen into disrepair over the years, and its location beside S H 73 made it a vulnerable target to vandals. The grant made it possible to breathe new life into the old hut.
Interpretation panels were developed with the assistance of the descendants of Grace and Guy Butler, whose family enjoyed visiting the hut for over 70 years. The panels are on easels and can be viewed through the front windows. The fully restored hut was officially opened as part of the Arthur's Pass National Park 75th anniversary celebrations in September 2004.
Getting there
Jacks Hut is located on the east side of state highway 73, about five kilometres towards the West Coast from the township of Arthur's Pass.
There is a car park on the opposite side of the highway, at the entrance to the Bealey Valley Walk.
The Arthur's Pass Walking Track follows alongside the highway, starting at the end of Arthur's Pass village, and coming back onto the highway beside Jacks Hut.