Our history

Dutton Trout Hatchery owes its beginning to the late Les Dutton who started operations in 1925 on his property near Guyra. In 1949 the hatchery was transferred to its present site on the Serpentine River which provided a more reliable water supply.

The hatchery was officially opened in 1952. The first manager was ‘Nugget’ Hyatt who served from 1949 to 1952. In the hatchery’s 50 year history there have been seven managers, John Sheather being the longest serving, from 1980 to 2005.

Many of the site’s facilities were constructed with the generosity of volunteers such as the Acclimatisation Societies, and anglers clubs. They excavated the grounds and constructed ponds, wooden troughs and buildings.