The unique meeting place for the industry was unveiled in November

Don Kyatt’s replica of Craig’s Hut, the brainchild of its much-loved Founder and Director, Frank Hutchinson, was officially opened with the help of Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Charity, on November 17.
The original Craig’s Hut sits on top of Mount Stirling in Victoria’s highlands. Built as part of the set for the 1982 Australian movie, The Man From Snowy River, it remains today as a tourist attraction and favourite destination for four-wheel-drive enthusiasts.
Frank and his family – including son Brent, who is now General Manager of the Don Kyatt Group of Companies – have spent a lot of time camping at the original Craig’s Hut and similar bushland sites in the Australian outback.
Don Kyatt’s replica, named Terrain Tamer Hut, is a little bigger than its inspiration and a little more luxurious inside. The building will be used by schools, car clubs and community organisations and host automotive industry functions and training.
It will be the perfect addition to the Don Kyatt site in Tottenham in Melbourne’s west, which already includes a four-wheel-drive training course and a huge start-of-the-art warehouse and manufacturing facility.
“I am absolutely honoured to be here today; you could have had Albo [Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese]; you could have had anyone, but in true Don Kyatt style you have gone for someone who you have a long history with,” Stuart said.
“If I was to describe Frank Hutchinson in a few words, it would be honest, humble, a visionary, an industry legend and a hell of a nice guy.
“Who would have thought back in 1969 when Frank teamed up with the late Don Kyatt and they each contributed $300 to start a business distributing Bedford truck and bus parts, that we would be here today at this huge facility, which is part of a multinational company with branches and people all over the world, with hundreds of long-serving and loyal employees and with the Terrain Tamer and Flash Lube brands being global names.
“In 2013 Frank was awarded our industry’s highest honour, the Outstanding Service to Industry Award. This is a 20-billion dollar industry, and I will never forget his speech that night. He talked about the fact that he owed everything he had built to his employees. He blew everyone away that night and it was typical of the culture of the company and the management team. It’s a people first approach, and that goes across staff and customers. It’s why your staff loves you and it’s why your customers love you and it’s why the industry loves you.
“On behalf of the AAAA I would like to thank the entire Don Kyatt group for everything you do and the way you do it. It is truly a legendary Australian company and a company we are all proud of and a company you should all be very proud to work for, to be customers of and to be involved in.”

For more information visit www.terraintamer.com.au