Earnslaw Hut was located on the Kea Basin Track, below Mt Earnslaw, and was about four to five hours walk from the Muddy Creek car park in the Rees Valley.
Doc Wakatipu community relations programme manager John Roberts said yesterday the corrugated iron hut was believed to have been built about a century ago.
The last time work had been carried out was in the 1980s, by Wakatipu carpenters Garth Varcoe and son Russell.
''Now we have ... replaced the foundations, repaired the chimney, repaired the hearth around the fire and replace the floorboards. The floorboards were donated by Glenorchy local Hamish Weatherall.''
Doc historic specialists Stew Hardie and Dave Murfin completed the revamp in a week, Mr Roberts said.
It was thought Earnslaw Hut was built to service early tourism in the area and the department welcomed any information about it, Mr Roberts said.
