Hut warden Nathan Kemp said a member of the public contacted the scout headquarters in Hobart because they noticed the front door of the lodge was insecure. 

“A few of the rovers headed up that afternoon and [when they got there they] realised the front door was smashed up and all the wood was gone,” Mr Kemp said.   

“The people that broke in weren’t opportunist, they had bolt cutters and enough utes and trailers to take all the wood.”

Mr Kemp spent monday night securing the property.

An estimated 8 metres of firewood was taken from the shed. 

The wood is stored at the heritage-listed facility for guests to use during the cold winter months. 

Scouts Tasmania lease the site from the State Government and `the hut’ as Carr Villa is colloquially known as, is usually heavily booked by Scout groups from across the state and visiting groups from interstate.

Members of the Launceston-based, non-for-profit Northern Area Rover Crew were gutted by the “senseless act” of those who would steal from the Scouts Tasmania youth development organisation.

“Now there is a substantial damage bill in excess of $1200 to sort as well as replacing the firewood,” Mr Kemp said. 

The entire entry door and framing will need to be replaced and new locks installed.