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Model - Nissen Hut, circa 1940-1945 Reg. No: SH 900705

Summary:: Alternative Name(s): Toy Hut

Model Nissen hut of timber and tin, semi-circular, made circa 1940-1945. Made in England, it may have been brought to Australia by the donor and his family when they emigrated after World War II. The hut was acquired with SH 90.704 (toy castle). It is assumed that the dates of manufacture for the two items are the same, as this model is reminiscent of military buildings in war-time.

Building models were sometimes used for military training. For instance, the Australian War Memorial holds a set of model buildings used for Air Raid Precautions training exercises, representing a section of the northern Sydney suburb of Wahroonga (id. no. REL/12577.010).

Nissen huts were developed during World War I by Major Peter Norman Nissen of the 29th Company Royal Engineers, UK. They were used extensively by the Allies during World War II for military camps and airbases. Made simply from rolled corrugated steel, Nissen Huts were cheap to make, and easy to transport and erect.
Description:: Toy hut made of wood and tin. The roof has the typical appearance of corrugated iron, curved into an arch which is nailed onto wooden base and floor. One end of the hut has a large doorway cut into it. Nail ends are visible at the edges. The doorway may have originally been painted red.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from D. Synott

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	7.20 cm (Height), 10.00 cm (Width), 9.50 cm (Length)

Tagged with:	architectural models, buildings, immigration, military history, scale models, wars conflicts, world war ii 1939-1945
Themes this item is part of:	Childhood & Youth Collection, Migration Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection, Getting In, Immigration Museum Exhibition, 2003-2015
Primary Classification:	GAMES & TOYS
Secondary Classification:	Buildings
Tertiary Classification:	war
Inscriptions:	On base: Made in England.
Place & Date Made:	England, Great Britain, 1940-1945
Date Used:	1940-1945