A book of 272 pages including illustrations and maps as well as an index and bibliography.non-fictionWritten by Jim Darby and edited by Mark Ashkanasy, this book features over 700 photographs and explores the resort's evolution from its ski club roots to a thriving destination. It traces the history of Mt Buller, from its exploration by skiers in the 1920s to the establishment of the Mount Buller Ski Club in 1923. It includes the construction of ski lodges, the introduction of rope tows and chairlifts, and the expansion of facilities to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors, capturing the spirit of Mt Buller, including its ski lift companies, ski patrols, ski schools, clubs, and mountain personalities. mt buller alpine resort, mt buller history, ski resorts victoria

This medal commemorates performance in the Australian Cross Country Ski Championships and was awarded to Diana Patterson. Diana Patterson was born in Tasmania and originally pursued a career as a physical education teacher. After making a major career change, she applied to join the Australian Antarctic Division. She applied four times before she was accepted. Diana first travelled to the Antarctic in October 1987. By this time only ten Australian women had spent a winter there. She first worked at Casey Station, before becoming leader at Mawson Station therein becoming the first female leader of an Antarctic base of any nation. After retiring Diana guided tourist expeditions to the Antarctic for many years, as well as continuing work in research and conservation. In 2012 she published her story “The Ice Beneath My Feet: My Year In Antarctica”. Diana Patterson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to conservation and the environment”. As well as these outstanding career achievements, Diana has been a Board Member of both the Mt. Buller Alpine Resort Management Board, including a period as Chairman, and also the Falls Creek Resort Management Board. She was also a founding member of Falls Creek Historical Society.This medal recognises the performance of a highly recognised member of the Falls Creek community.Hexagon shaped medal with a skier and Nordic figure on the front and snowflake design on the reverse side.Below image: AUSTRALIAN SKI FEDERATIONx country skiing cbampionships, australian ski federation

This medal commemorates the Nordic Ski Club and belonged to Diana Patterson. Diana Patterson was born in Tasmania and originally pursued a career as a physical education teacher. After making a major career change, she applied to join the Australian Antarctic Division. She applied four times before she was accepted. Diana first travelled to the Antarctic in October 1987. By this time only ten Australian women had spent a winter there. She first worked at Casey Station, before becoming leader at Mawson Station therein becoming the first female leader of an Antarctic base of any nation. After retiring Diana guided tourist expeditions to the Antarctic for many years, as well as continuing work in research and conservation. In 2012 she published her story “The Ice Beneath My Feet: My Year In Antarctica”. Diana Patterson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to conservation and the environment”. As well as these outstanding career achievements, Diana has been a Board Member of both the Mt. Buller Alpine Resort Management Board, including a period as Chairman, and also the Falls Creek Resort Management Board. She was also a founding member of Falls Creek Historical Society.This medal belonged to a highly recognised Australian and founding member of the Falls Creek Historical Society.A triangle shaped medal with a red, white and blue lanyard attached. It bears an embossed figure of a Nordic Skier and text.On front, around edges: 1972 TELEMARK NORDIC SKI CLUB AUSTRALIA On back: Rocky Valley Rush W40 1991nordic ski club, australian skiing, diana patterson, falls creek, telemark skiing

These badges and emblems were issued by the Winter Olympic committees for the Games in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994 and Salt Lake City, USA in 2002 to commemorate the holding of the games in their respective cities. The badges were owned and donated by Diana Patterson who was a talented cross country skier. She was born in Tasmania and originally pursued a career as a physical education teacher. After making a major career change, she applied to join the Australian Antarctic Division. She applied four times before she was accepted. Diana first travelled to the Antarctic in October 1987. By this time only ten Australian women had spent a winter there. She first worked at Casey Station, before becoming leader at Mawson Station therein becoming the first female leader of an Antarctic base of any nation. After retiring Diana guided tourist expeditions to the Antarctic for many years, as well as continuing work in research and conservation. In 2012 she published her story “The Ice Beneath My Feet: My Year In Antarctica”. Diana Patterson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to conservation and the environment”. As well as these outstanding career achievements, Diana has been a Board Member of both the Mt. Buller Alpine Resort Management Board, including a period as Chairman, and also the Falls Creek Resort Management Board. She was also a founding member of Falls Creek Historical Society.These badges belonged to a highly recognised Australian and founding member of the Falls Creek Historical Society.Two badges issued to represent the Olympic cities of Lillehammer in 1994 and Park City, Salt Lake 2002, The badge for 1994 is rectangular and has a stylised figure of a skier in the centre. It has a chain attached at the top, so may have been part of a keychain. The 2002 badge for Park City is round and bears the emblem adopted for the Olympic Games held in Salt Lake as well as the Olympic rings.Badge 1: Lillehammer 1994 Badge 2: Olympic Venue City, Park City, Olympic Winter Games, Salt Lake 2002diana patterson, falls creek, lillehammer winter games, salt lake city winter games

This lapel pin originates from the Birkebeiner Lodge in Norway. The cross country ski race which originated there in 1932 was the inspiration for the annual Kangaroo Hoppet Race held in Falls Creek, Victoria. The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia's premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the prestigious Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events. The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. The course started and finished at the alpine ski village of Falls Creek, and took participants out into the wilderness area of the Bogong High Plains. Later, 42km became the main distance and after a few name changes, the name of Kangaroo Hoppet was adopted in 1990. The lapel pin was owned and donated by Diana Patterson who was a talented cross country skier. She was born in Tasmania and originally pursued a career as a physical education teacher. After making a major career change, she applied to join the Australian Antarctic Division. She applied four times before she was accepted. Diana first travelled to the Antarctic in October 1987. By this time only ten Australian women had spent a winter there. She first worked at Casey Station, before becoming leader at Mawson Station therein becoming the first female leader of an Antarctic base of any nation. After retiring Diana guided tourist expeditions to the Antarctic for many years, as well as continuing work in research and conservation. In 2012 she published her story “The Ice Beneath My Feet: My Year In Antarctica”. Diana Patterson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to conservation and the environment”. As well as these outstanding career achievements, Diana has been a Board Member of both the Mt. Buller Alpine Resort Management Board, including a period as Chairman, and also the Falls Creek Resort Management Board. She was also a founding member of Falls Creek Historical Society.This medal belonged to a highly recognised Australian and founding member of the Falls Creek Historical Society.A small gold lapel pin from the Birkebeiner Lodge in the form of a Nordic skier with the name beneath it.diana patterson, falls creek, cross country skiing, kangaroo hoppet

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. It accompanied a copy of Ernest Forras' autobiography "Earnest Escapades" given to George Shirling - two pioneers of the Australian Ski Industry. Ernest Forras died on Sunday 31st October 2010 at Mt Buller. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigi Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This item is significant because it links two pioneers of the Australian Ski Industry.A message from Ernest Forras to George Shirling in a wooden frame. An explanatory sign explains Ernie Forras' background. The autograph says: "To My dear Friend George Koki's Creator From Hungary with Love!! Ernie F." ITEM No.4 Ernest Forras "Earnest Escapades" The autobiography of a pioneer of the Australian snowfields First published in 1994. Ernest, later the owner of Kooroora, Mt. Buller on his first visit to Falls Creek in June 1951 writes about the lodges at Falls Creek... Albury, Bogong, St. Arnauds, Wangaratta, Skyline (Ski Club of Victoria), and Myrtleford ski club, St. Elmo's hut, Bob Hyman's small chalet, and Tom Mitchell's (then, State Attorney General) private hut. When learning that the State Electricity Commission controlled Falls Creek in the early days, Ernest wondered why the Egg Board and the Potato Board had missed out! Ernest acknowledged the impressive development in the Australian snowfields but remained concerned about a "head in the snow" attitude which argued against privatisation of our snowfields, park entry fees, and the compulsory carrying of snow chains. Is anybody listening?george shirling, ernest forras, "earnest escapades"

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. Ernest Forras came first to Falls Creek but settled at Mt Buller and established Kooroora Chalet. It was built on the site of Cow Camp Hut in 1954. The Chalet was destroyed by fire in 1961 and rebuilt in 1965. After the rebuild, they installed a large generator and sold electricity to their neighbours. Kooroora gained a reputation as the party place of Mt Buller. It was purchased by Richard Paine in 1994. Ernest Forras died at Mt Buller on Sunday 31st October 2010. At the end of the 2018 winter season, the Kooroora Chalet underwent a major refurbishment. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigi Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This photo is significant because it features Ernest Forras who originally came to Falls Creek but settled at Mt Buller and established Kooroora Chalet. A colour photo of Ernest Forras and the truck from Kooroora Chalet On side of truck: Kooroora Chalet Mount Buller with E. Forras & Staffgeorge shirling, ernest forras, kooroora chalet mt buller

SKI TICKETS Before tows and lifts were introduced at Falls Creek, it could take skiers 20 minutes to climb to the Summit … but only TWO minutes to go back to the bottom. The arrival of tows, then chairlifts and T-bars changed the face of skiing forever. The first rope tow was constructed by Toni St. Elmo for the 1951 winter season. Bob Hymans installed a smaller tow for his guests at Skyline Lodge. Tows were still quite slow, so in 1956 Bob Hymans created his single chairlift. In 1958 the Village rope tow, designed by Albury engineer Jock Wilson, opened. It was financed by shareholders including Bill Griffith (Bowna Ski Club) and the Bridgford family (St. Trinian’s Ski Club). Several other tows followed including the Summit T-bar in 1961, built by Ron McCallum and operated by Alpine Developments Pty. Ltd. which was a company formed by C. H. (Bill) Bridgford. By 1982 Falls Creek was served by 16 different lifts or T-bars, all owned and operated by Alpine Developments (Holdings) Pty. Ltd. During the development of Falls Creek, different methods have been used to pay for the use of tows, lifts and T-bars … including metal tokens, single tickets, strips of tickets and season passes. The Falls Creek Historical Society Collection includes many examples of these items.This ski pass is significant because it was issued to a pioneer of the ski industry in Falls Creek, Victoria.A plastic covered ski pass for Axamer Lizum resort in Austria. It was issued to C. H. Bridgeford. in 1968. Charles (Bill) Bridgeford built a family lodge called St. Trinian's in the early 1950s. Bill had previously worked in the family shipping firm and had been Member for South Eastern in the Victorian Parliament. He became one of the shareholders in the Village rope tow which had been a failure partly because too many people had been involved. In 1960 Bridgeford approached Toni St. Elmo with an offer to buy the Nissen tow and Nissen Lodge which was accepted. With friends Geoff Henke and Ron McCallum, an engineer, he formed Alpine Developments (Holdings) Pty. Ltd. Ron had also been Lift Manager at Mt. Buller and together they acquired the Village rope tow and replaced it with a T-bar. They gained the franchise to operate all ski lifts and T-bars and later the Falls Creek Ski School. Alpine Developments (Holdings) Pty. Ltd continued to expand the lift network until 1983 when the lifts were sold to Transfield.On front: Photograph and text Innsbruck Olympics 1964 logo in top right Tage M Axamer Lizum № 000157 Gültig für alle Sessel-und Schlepplifte (Valid for all chairlifts and drag tows) 15. FEB. 1968 until 21. FEB. 1968 Preis laut Tarif (Price according to tariff) On back: Condition of use in German, English and Frenchcharles bridgeford, alpine development holdings pty ltd, ski pass, axamer lizum resort

Schuss was advertised as Victoria’s Official Ski Journal It was issued monthly from 1935 to 1961 except during the war when summer issues covered two months. This continued after the war, but it averaged 10 issues annually over its 25 year life. Schuss was published by the Ski Club of Victoria which had a membership of 38 Ski Clubs and demanded to be recognised as the prime authority on skiing in the state. The other 30 ski clubs with 85% of the members disagreed and the politics of skiing became heated. These clubs formed the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs with their own journal, Ski Horizon. With the establishment of the Victorian Ski Association, Ski-Horizon published its last issue in Nov - Dec. 1955 and the role of the official journal was fully taken over by “Schuss”. This item is significant because it contains stories, images and information documenting the development of the ski facilities at Falls Creek.The journal includes stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. The cover features a photo of the new Federation T-Bar Lift at Mt. Buller. Page 39 included news about the completion of the Rocky Valley Dam which was now filling. It outlined safety warnings from the State Electricity Commission. It also announced the formation of a Management Committee for Falls Creek due to its growing popularity as an Alpine ski resort.schuss journal, rocky valley dam, falls creek committee of management