The Allison family arrived in Van Diemen’s Land from Yorkshire and were early pioneers and pastoralists in the Campbell Town area. Family members went on to purchase a property near Bothwell named 'Hunterston', as well as holding a lease in an area beyond Lake Augusta, known as 'The Branches'.
Dudley Allison was a grandson of the owners of 'Hunterston' and he was well known in the lake country. A big, strong man, he would spend four to five months each year working at 'The Branches', on the 1,700 hectares bounded by the James and Ouse Rivers. Allisons Hut is situated on this land and was used by shepherds from the turn of the century until 1955, when the Allisons gave up their lease on 'The Branches', following construction of a HEC dam and the subsequent flooding of the rivers which often made access to the property difficult.
Dudley Allison died in 1983 at the age of 85.
The Tasmanian Mountain Cattlemen's Association has taken on the role of maintenance of Allisons Hut, with Tony Dixon as caretaker.
