Bob (Herman) Hymans (a former member of the Royal Netherlands Navy) was born in Bloemendaal, Holland on 30th September 1922. During World War II he fought against the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and was imprisoned in Changi and on the Burma Railway. After gaining qualifications as a Ski Instructor, Bob arrived in Falls Creek in July 1950. Working as an Instructor and Supervisor at Bogong Lodge, Bob decided his future was in accommodation. He was successful in negotiating an indenture for land from the State Electricity Commission (SEC). It took Bob two years to build his Grand Coeur Chalet but, tragically, it was burned down in August 1961. Bob also built the first Chairlift in Australia. This was a single chairlift and the structure was built from wooden electricity poles. He was constantly full of new ideas and proposals for the village. Bob Hymans die on 7th July 2007. This Collection of documents and letters tells the story of Bob's endeavours to develop Falls Creek into the ski village it is today.This item is significant because it documents actions taken by the Falls Creek Tourist Area Management Committee in their role overseeing the Tourist Area.A circular from the Management Committee restating information about the garbage service to be provided by "Yellow Horse Snow Services Pty. Ltd." Acceptable garbage receptacles are explained.falls creek tourist area management committee, falls creek administration, bob hymans

Central Park (Snow) July 1949stawell

Railway yards snow storm 1949stawell transport

Central Park (Snow) July 1949stawell

Big Hill Snow Scene 1949stawell

Main Street in the Snow 18th July 1949stawell

Main Street in the Snow 18th July 1949stawell

Main Street in the Snow 18th July 1949stawell

Main Street in the Snow 18th July 1949stawell streetscape

Snow Scene Grampians House July 1949stawell

Joan and Jack Lemin in the snow in Greenhills circa 1940Digital copy of black and white photographgreenhills, wightman family, lemin family

Two photographs of Snow Scene Black Ranges 1901stawell

Snow Scene Lake Bellfield Grampians June 1981stawell

Snow Scene Hotel Bellfield 1949 Halls Gapstawell

The railway track was maintained initially by seven three-man gangs headed by a ganger. The gangers tended to be promoted into the Otways but many of their subordinate staff of repairers were local recruits. There were two track gangs at Beech Forest until 1954, so a large number of gangers and repairers was present over the years. World War 2 with petrol and rubber rationing provided a boost to the line. The 1939 bushfire killed a great deal of timber which had to transported out of the Otways, and the commencement of a vigorous wartime pulp wood traffic from Beech Forest meant that only the railway could efficiently handle the volume of traffic. By early 1940 not only the Garratt was running a daily train to Beech Forest but an NA goods train was scheduled to run at night. As a result the track gangs were also particularly busy at the same time.B/W. In snow at Beech Forest, a track gang on a trolley at the entrance to the Way and Works shed, comprising G. Newland, Ned Hewing, Bill Taylor, Jim Gowty, and Buck.beech forest; railways; g. newland; ned hewing; bill taylor; jim gowty; snow; track gang;

Snow Scene 3 Mahnke Street Stawell June 1981stawell

Car on road in Grampians Snow Scenes July 19 1949halls gap

Delley's Bridge Grampians Snow Scenes July 19 1949halls gap

Stawell Town Hall 1949 with snow showing Methodist Church.stawell

Cliff Earle - Radio and Electrical Contractor vehicle . 1949 snow stawell

Car on road in Grampians Snow Scenes July 19 1949halls gap

This photograph details (early to mid1950s), the Victorian Alpine region when this remote area was part of a "lay back" rural landscape,occasionally visited by recreational adventurers and some wayward tourists. The mountain ranges had provided an adequate barrier against the way-would traveller, but with the opening up of this region by the provision of improved roadways and accommodation facilities, courtesy of the Kiewa Valley Hydro Electricity Scheme, changes such as tourism and its impact upon the "natural" state started to show its side effects (clearing of the land). The expansion of the European immigration numbers (1950s) coming into Australia was increasing after World War II which not only provided increased construction workers to the region but also immigrants who appreciated alpine regions. Some of these immigrants contributed to the expansion of the region and provided for a greater degree of diverse professions and rural related work force.This photograph depicts the borderline in time between an exclusively rural based population and respective activities(early 1900s)to the present (2000 on wards) integrated village, tourist and retiree/holiday area. The time when land was exclusively used in agriculture and Alpine grazing lands is over. The Kiewa Valley is loosing its hiding place and is becoming more and more a source of untapped residential land and winter time recreational adventure lands. The changes brought about by modern technologies involving recreational activities such as hang gliding, gliding (local airstrip), mountain bikes, car rallies and their associated clubs is providing for an increased short term population boost. These together with the attractions for retirees is changing not only the physical nature of the Kiewa valley but also its "soul".This item is a black and white photograph of a section of snow covered catchment area in the Victorian Alps in the mid 1900. It is on 200 gms paper but not on photographic paper and has a white boarder (3 mm).kiewa valley tourism, victorian alps, alternate energy supplies, alpine population growth

North Western Woollen Mills Snow Scene 1981. Two photographsstawell industry

Holy Trinity Anglican Church Vicarage with snow on the roof and ground 1949stawell religion

McIntosh Old Garden snow in Stawell 1949. Now Shuttleworths Steel.stawell

Lane between Shire Hall & Court House Stawell West Snow 1949stawell

Lower Main Street in Snow 1949 looking back towards Barnes Streetstawell

Lane between Shire Hall & Court House Stawell West Snow 1949stawell