In November 2018 a backcountry angler named David wrote to the Director of Wild Drake Pty Ltd, the leaseholder of Halls Island on Lake Malbena, respectfully requesting access to the island.

If it sounds like a strange request, that’s because it was. Like many people, David had been visiting Halls Island for years. So he was appalled that this part of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park was now off-limits unless he obtained written permission. (see breakout box)

But David wanted to go. So in good faith, he followed the new procedure.

The reply from Wild Drake Director, Daniel Hackett was a disappointment. David was denied access.

Among the reasons given, was this curious note:

“Our historic private hut and the island are currently closed to access while overdue conservation work is planned and implemented to protect the hut for future generations. Among the urgent works to be carried out are new floor joists and boards, which are currently broken, and are at risk of irreparable damage at this time.”

The email was signed off, Daniel Hackett, Halls Island custodian and lessee.

Halls Hut, on Halls Island, Lake Malbena was built as an island refuge for bushwalkers and anglers in 1955 by Reg Hall. Reg Hall is widely recognised as the father of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. During his lifetime, he explored the area extensively, naming many features and helping his friend, Dick Reid to build a few iconic, public bush huts in the region.

Well, thought David, if Halls Hut has a custodian and there were ‘urgent repairs’ needed – to ‘protect it for future generations’ – so be it, let the custodian do that overdue work.

But, as the years ticked by, realisation began to dawn that Daniel Hackett had no interest in looking after Halls Hut. The hut remained in disrepair. Rather, it became known that Daniel Hackett wanted to build luxury huts nearby on *his* island, and have guests pay just shy of $5000 per head for the privilege. In his mind, they would fly in by helicopter and stay for a couple of exclusive nights.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government secretly rezoned Halls Island in 2016 after the project was first mooted. It is widely seen as a test case for private profit-driven ventures in the TWWHA.

For the bystander watching on, it is hard to imagine a concept more removed from Reg Hall’s sentiment and building of the hut for the community, in that most unspoilt of locations, all those years ago.

As of February 2024, Halls Hut hasn’t had a scrap of restorative work done on it. The gutters have fallen off, the chimney is crumbling, leaks are appearing, the door has slumped and those floor joists and boards are sinking further towards the damp earth.

So what is going on?

Those that have always regularly visited and maintained the hut are now barred from visiting. The fight to save Lake Malbena from helicopter tourism has become a clarion call to those that understand the importance of preserving the immense natural and cultural values of the Western Lakes wilderness.

This negligence of Tasmania’s high country heritage cuts deep. Those who have visited Halls Island for generations joined  conservationists to fight to preserve the peace and tranquility of this area, which they value as high as the world-class fishery is famed for. The idea that hundreds of chopper flights each year will shatter this idyllic landscape is abhorrent to them.

Imagine how peaceful and silent the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (think about this name) is, and then imagine how far the sounds of mechanical churning helicopter rotor blades would carry across it. Hundreds of times a year, so Daniel Hackett and his faceless (cowardly) backers can make an enormous profit.

The natural aura of this wild place will be damaged by helicopters.

What’s worse, as documented in renowned author Greg French’s recent book, ‘Wild Heart of Tasmania’ Daniel Hackett was awarded the lease to Halls Hut itself by the late Reg Hall’s daughter Liz, on the promise he would conserve the hut diligently.

On reading these uncontested facts, it seems Daniel Hackett has not just betrayed David and the thousands of others that love Halls Island and backcountry culture, he executed that betrayal on the back of – at best – a cynical distortion, to a kind and generous woman trying to preserve her father’s legacy.

In 2022, Heritage Tasmania listed Halls Hut on the Heritage Tasmania Register, rightly so. And yet consecutive Heritage Ministers have ignored the plight of this quaint, but incredibly significant piece of high country history. Liberal Ministers, ignoring the pleas of the community and Reg Hall’s family, have knowingly relegated Tasmania’s heritage to the soil.

The proposal by Daniel Hackett’s Wild Drake business has no level of approval from authorities. It has no valid development application to its name and, it is under assessment by the Federal Environment Department. Should Wild Drake gain approval, it will take years for Daniel Hackett to commence operations, if ever.

With this in mind he stated just last year he would only do maintenance when his project becomes commercially viable. So much for fulfilling that promise to Liz Hall. So much for acting with genuine care and in good faith. Instead, Halls Hut is effectively being held to ransom.

So much for ‘urgent repairs’. So much for being a ‘custodian’.

To be clear, this heritage-listed property has no friends in government. It appears there is no interest in ensuring Daniel Hackett is true to his word or does even the bare minimum to protect Tasmanian heritage. The Tasmanian Liberal Government has extended his lease in perpetuity (read forever), raising the proverbial middle finger to the thousands of hearts and minds who have fought so long and so hard to protect what they love.

It has no social benefit or licence.

Most recently at Senate Estimates hearings in Canberra, Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim questioned Federal Departmental officials about the current state of this profit-driven project. They confirmed Daniel Hackett has not supplied one piece of extra information for assessment since they requested it last year. Nothing.

Not only that, the Federal Environment Department has not enforced a deadline or any timeline pressure on Daniel Hackett. Much like its Tasmanian counterparts.

All the while, Halls Hut, a simple but crucial part of Tasmanian heritage, continues to crumble into dust.

Fishers and Walkers Tasmania is a lobby group for anglers and bushwalkers who oppose inappropriate development and mechanised access to the Tasmanian wilderness. © Images in this article courtesy of and copyright Dan Broun 2024.