This photo is part of the Fred Griffith Photographic Collection. Frederick Charles “Fred” Griffith was born in Albury, NSW on 2 March 1910. He was one of the pioneers behind the development of Falls Creek and an inaugural member of the Albury Ski Club. The Nissen rope tow was built by Toni and Skippy St Elmo in 1951, but after 5 years it became obvious another tow was needed for the novice and intermediate skiers. A proposal was put to the Management Committee to erect a Village rope tow, with interested people becoming shareholders. This tow, designed by Albury engineer, Jock Wilson, was working by 1958. Fred Griffiths and some of his family members were amongst the shareholders. After a serious work accident, Fred retired in 1985 and moved to Rosebud, Victoria where he died on 19 August 1992.This image depicts an important development allowing further access to Falls Creek Alpine Resort.A black and white photo of the opening of the Village Tow at Falls Creek in 1959. It shows the buildings and a group of people gathered for the occasion.fred griffith, albury ski club, falls creek, bowna ski club

This photo is part of the Fred Griffith Photographic Collection. Frederick Charles “Fred” Griffith was born in Albury, NSW on 2 March 1910. He was one of the pioneers behind the development of Falls Creek and an inaugural member of the Albury Ski Club. After a serious work accident, Fred retired in 1985 and moved to Rosebud, Victoria where he died on 19 August 1992. A Bogong ski team travelled to the South Island, New Zealand in 1950 and raced in the Wigley Cup, becoming the first Australian club team to compete in New Zealand. The trip was organised and the team was coached by Toni St Elmo and Tom MItchell.This image depicts an important step in the development of Falls Creek and the sport of snow skiing in Australia.A collection of black and white photo depicting the Bogong Ski team of 1950.fred griffith, albury ski club, falls creek, bowna ski club

Frederick Charles “Fred” Griffith was born in Albury, NSW on 2 March 1910. Educated in Albury and Geelong Grammar. Beginning in 1927 he spent many years working first as a jackeroo and on a range of prominent pastoral and merino stud properties in NSW and Queensland. In 1935 he repurchased his former family property “Toonallook", Bowna, NSW and developed it to be the largest Romney Marsh stud in the world, exporting rams to Argentina. He introduced many innovative practices on his property including rabbit control measures and aerial crop dusting. He was an active member of the Albury Show Society and in 1949 established the Albury Sheep Show. Fred was also the Albury representative on the Graziers’ Association Council for over 30 years. He became a life member of both the Albury and Commercial Clubs. Fred’s greatest hobby was snow skiing. His first visit to the snow was to Kosciusko in 1919. The Albury Ski Club was formed in 1935 and Fred was an inaugural member. In 1949 they were granted a site at Falls Creek to build their own lodge. Fred guaranteed the Club for finance from the Bank of NSW. The first portion of the prefabricated building was constructed in Albury. It was transported to Falls Creek on the back of Fred’s truck and erected in one day. This was the bathroom section and the rest was completed in 1950. The original lodge was burned down in 1952 and a new one built the following year. In 1955, Fred also built the Bowna Lodge for his family in partnership with David Fairbairn. He became head of the North Eastern District Skiing Association (N.E.D.S.A.) and successfully applied to run the Australian Ski Championships. Fred also inaugurated children’s races at Falls Creek and ran them for about 20 years. He also formed the company “Falls Creek Ski Tows”. In 1956 Fred along with a group of key people selected the site for Thredbo Village. Fred and his brother sold Toonallook in sections between 1951 and 1974. He moved to Albury and set up as a landscape gardener and fencing contractor. After a serious work accident, Fred retired in 1985 and moved to Rosebud, Victoria where he died on 19 August 1992. Bowna is now known as the Riverina Ski Club.This image depicts Fred Griffith who was a pioneer of the Albury Ski Club and Falls Creek2 black and white photos Fred Griffith with friends at Bowna Ski Club in 1962On back of photo 1 in pencil: Group in the kitchen at my lodge in Falls Creek, July 1962. L. TO R: Daughter Christine (18), Diane (2), self, WIng Commander Peter Kemp, Captain MIchin, Thea Hedley + Lt. Commander Keith Wehe R.N. On back of photo 2 in pencil: Falls Creek, July 1962fred griffith, albury ski club, falls creek, bowna ski club

Bob Hymans Collection 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 May 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 Grande 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 died 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 document is significant because it documents the story of an important pioneer of Falls Creek.A 5 page indenture or contract typed on paper. This document sets out the terms and conditions set down for the lease of land in Falls Creek at the cost of £1 per week.legal contract, bob hymans