The Mud Hut was the name of an historic building in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. It was officially known as Aspendale and by derogatory name of Knight's Folly. It was located between Hughes Avenue and Kitchener Drive on the escarpment below Darwin and is now a symbol of innovative tropical architecture.

Construction

The Mud Hut was constructed in 1883 by

John George Knight John George Knight (1826 – 10 January 1892),Sally O'Neill,, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, Melbourne University Press, 1974, pp 37-37. Retrieved 24 August 2009 was an architect and Government Resident of the Northern Territory ...

, an architect and the

Government Resident of the Northern Territory The administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the governor-general of Australia to represent the Crown in right of the Northern Territory. They perform functions similar to those of a Governors of the Australian states, ...

from 1890 to 1892. Built from 'Egyptian bricks', it was two storeys, was the width of one room and featured large verandahs.

Destruction

The Mud Hut burnt down on the 31 Dec 1933. It was unoccupied at the time, as residents Eric Thomas Asche and his family, including son

Austin Asche Keith John Austin Asche ( ; 28 November 1925 – 14 December 2024) was an Australian judge. He was Administrator of the Northern Territory of Australia and was the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Background ...

, were on holidays. Evidence given at an inquiry was insufficient in proving the cause or origin of the fire but eventually the "defective state of the electric lighting" was blamed. The only visible remains today are a set of concrete stairs and an information panel. Mud Hut in Darwin 1902

References

{{coord, -12.467760, 130.844704, format=dms, display=title Buildings and structures in Darwin, Northern Territory