PIONEER HUT
A red brick building which is used for lectures and meetings. It houses the quartermaster’s stores, and has a male and female toilet. The Pioneer Hut was opened by Deputy Mayor of Durban, Councillor Farrell on 22nd April 1944.
Pioneer Hut
A red brick building which is used for lectures and meetings. It houses the quartermaster’s stores, and has a male and female toilet. The Pioneer Hut was opened by Deputy Mayor of Durban, Councillor Farrell on 22nd April 1944.
The name was chosen by the then Camp Committee to honour those who “pioneered” Scouting in Natal in the early years.
A showpiece was the mock fireplace on the south wall. The fireplace designed by Coronation Brick Works, Durban, was built in memory of two young scouters from 4th Durban, Derek Short and Derek Barnett who both lost their lives while on active service during World War Two.
In 2019 Pioneer Hut was fully restored through funding made available by German Rover couple, Dr Michael and Dorothée Boecker. The restoration was done under the guidance of Steve Camp.
A separate quartermaster’s storeroom was considered superfluous and subsequently divided into two rooms. One is an office from which all the administration for B-P Camp is run and the other has been converted into a small library and museum.
A bare shell – nothing left from ceilings to rafters and doors, all stolen!
Ready to start with the renovations.
Note the size of existing windows and door compared to after the restoration.
Slowly Pioneer Hut begins to regain its former glory.
Exposed wooden trusses waiting for the roof sheeting to complete the veranda.
The beautiful stained-glass fleur-de-lis scouting emblem, restored door with stained glass inlays and open roof trusses are dominant features as the hall nears restoration.
The chandelier up and historic Natal scouting pictures grace the walls inside the restored hall.