Colour photograph of the Omeo High Plains.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains

Colour photograph of the road near Omeo, Victoria.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, australian alps, high country

Colour photograph of a church in Omeo.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, bluestone, church

2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, football ground, oval, racecourse

Colour photograph of the football ground at Omeo.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, cemetery, omeo football ground

Colour photograph of an hotel in Omeo, Victoria.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, hotel, pub

2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, townscape, cityscape

Colour photograph of Omeo, Victoria.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, post office

Colour photograph of Omeo, Victoria.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, post office, streetscape, heritage

2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, courthouse, court, night

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Coloor photograph of a night view in the main street of Omeo.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, night

Colour photograph of a building in Omeo at night. 2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, night

2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, night

Colour photograph of Omeo at night.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, night, post office

2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, night, foodworks, supermarkety

2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, shops

Colour photograph of the Golden Age Hotel in Omeo.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape, heritage, golden age hotel

Colour photograph of the Victorian town of Omeo.2017, great alpine road, omeo high plains, omeo, high country, streetscape

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 features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. The cover includes a photo of the Jane Tinsley running in the slalom on the Bull Run by Eric Burt. Pages 200 - 202 feature a detailed tribute to George Fitzgerald, a pioneer of Omeo and the Bogong High Plains. Page 216 gives a brief description of Falls Creek as part of an article "Available Ski Resorts in Victoria" followed on Page 221 by an article declaring the opening of the Village Ski Tow on the Queen's Birthday weekend. The first ride was given to Bernhard Plohberger, the Tow Manager and Ski School Instructor. Other developments at Falls Creek were outlined. Page 229 features an advertisement for the new Falls Creek Ski School where Bernhard Plohberger would teach the "Wedeln Technique"schuss journal, the ski club of victoria, george fitzgerald of shannonvale, bernhard plohberger

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 features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. The cover features a photo of Milan Kovacic demonstrating the Wedeln Technique. Page 257 has a photo of an unknown gentleman transporting a bass on a chair lift with the suggestion that he could provide "music while you ski" to assist the Wedeln Technique. Pages 258 - 260 continued Tribute to George S Fitzgerald, Pioneer of Omeo and the Bogong High Plains from the previous issue. Page 263 reported on the success of the New Ski Tow at Falls Creek including a photo taken by Eric Burt on the opening day. An advertisement for Falls Creek Ski School was also on this page. Page 266 referred to a talk given by Bernhard Plohberger and page 275 features an advertisement for Falls Creek Ski School where Bernhard Plohberger would teach the "Wedeln Technique".schuss journal, the ski club of victoria, george fitzgerald of shannonvale, bernhard plohberger

This photo depicts the rescue of three local skiets that became trapped on Mt Bogong during a blizzard and became known as the Cleve Cole tragedy . Mick Hull Howard Michell and Cleve Cole where skiing on Mt Bogong and could not find their way off the mountain via Staircase Spur due to Blizzard conditions and ended up in the Mitta Valley. Howard Michell walked to the Battys farm to get help for his weak and injured friends. Cleve Cole died shortly after arriving at Omeo hospital. This photo is historically significant as it tells the rescue story of this tragedy. The photos are of the people involved which add to the story. Mt Bogong Victoria's highest mountain is accessed from the Kiewa Valley and near by high plains and over shadows Mt Beauty township therefore is a local story. The photo comes from the rescue party which is a rare photo and thus has great interpretive capacity . The skiing history is one of KVHS main themes and this photo is part of our Skiing Across Country exhibitionBlack and white photo of several men in the bush near Mt Bogong. Photo is glued on to cardboard with a dark grey border and light grey wider border on the outside.Handwritten on back "The Discovery of Cleve Cole / up the Big River (Below Paddy's Flat) / Cole is arrowed / Cyril Rootsey / Jack Batty / Bill Batty / Paul? Bitner / Tom Fitzgerald / Etc. / (I think dad is the one with his hand up to his face)" Back - red stamp - "Herald Feature / Service / Melbournecleve cole. mt bogong. big river. paddy's flat.

1. These Skis were hand carved in Sweden around 1937 and brought to Australia where they were purchased around 1962 by a Bogong Rover Scout. They were refurbished with steel edging and plastic soles and saw extensive service on the Bogong High Plains between 1962 and 1968. They performed magnificently, riding out the deepest mogul with ease because of their highly curved tips. Of particuular interest is the way the Kandahar toe iron has been attached to the ski. The ski was slotted through its width, the tow iron inserted and then folded vertically to give an integral attachment. In those days skins were used extensively for uphill climbing, hence the yellow plastic patch on the back surface to protect from the skin buckle. Cable bindings were used to enable the boot to lift for climbing. When ready for a downhill run, the cable was slipped under the side-pulls to anchor the heel. The beauty of these bindings in those days was that they were composite downhill and touring skis. These particular skis were of lightweight timber (timber unknown) compared to others of their day, which are often made of Hickory which is much denser and heavier. Rover Scouts and the Bogong High Plains The Bogong Rover Lodge started as an SEC (State Electricity Commission) hut near Langford's Gap and was carried on the backs of Rover Scouts across to its present location on the Southern side of the Bogong High Plains around 1937 under the direction of W.F. (Bill) Waters, a skiing pioneer, synonymous with establishing skiing on the BHP. The Rover Scouts left Melbourne by train to Bairnsdale. They went onto Omeo (bus?) where they stayed overnight at the pub then (bus?) to Fitzgerald's farm on the Omeo Highway. Then on packhorses to the snow line. Then they carried their packs and skis. to the lodge. The Lodge continues to this day (2026) as a base for Scouts skiing and bushwalking on the Bogong High Plains. Rovers, the senior branch of Scouting, are aged between 18 to 25 years. The Bogong Rover Lodge / Chalet / or Scout Hut is open all year round.1. 2 pairs of skis: One pair is hand-crafted Swedish wooden skis circa 1937. Quite a thick ski. Tapered shape with a distinctive pointed toe. Coated with dark brown varnish which is lifting in some parts. The ski has a yellow plastic patch at the rear and a re-inforced foot plate. Bindings are metal and leather. 216 cm long and 7 cm wide. The second pair of skies are red plastic. Possibly Italian with an unusual downhill & touring binding circa 1970. 198 cm long and 7 cm wide Bogong Rover overshirt (winter). Pure wool, long sleeves, 2 front buttons, pockets with insignia include Box Hill District Boy Scouts Alpine Rovers Badge on right top of sleeve. Epaulettes on the left and right shoulders. Left hand side has 8 pieces of coloured tabs attached. Also, Green triangular cotton neck tie with leather toggle.Labels 'pure wool'; 'scout shop' 'size 14'rover scouts, cross country skiing, bill waters, swedish skis, scouts uniform

Swedish snow shoes for horses were imported by Martin Romuld in 1937. They were used by Tom Fitzgerald's packhorses but not on the State Electricity Commission of Victoria's horses as a S.E.C.V. 'horse expert' claimed the horses would break their legs.Tom Fitzgerald lived on the Omeo Highway near Shannonvale and brought cattle up to the Bogong High Plains. He would have travelled in the snow during the year visiting his hut and maintaining his equipment. The S.E.C.V. worked on the Bogong High Plains all year round during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. Copy of a black and white photo glued onto cardboard showing a "Swedish snow shoe for horses" followed by further information re their uses on the Bogong High Plains. On the back stamped in blue 'Rescent'swedish snow shoes; horses; bogong high plains

The Blue Duck Hotel stands at the confluence of 3 trout rivers - Cobungra, Bundarra and Mitta Mitta, called Angler's Rest. The original 1900's building was of slab construction and operated as a butcher shop, servicing miners on the track from Omeo to Mt. Wills. In 1912 it was purchased by a miner, Billy O'Connell, and he obtained a hotel license. In the early 1920's he transported 2 houses from Omeo on Horse drays. One is the main building of the Blue Duck and the other was a residence where Billy and his wife raised their nine children. The small log structure behind the pub is State School No.4286 where the children attended school. A teacher was shared with Glen Wills. By the late 1920's the hotel was discovered and patronized by keen anglers. Sir Harold Clapp (head of the railways) was one and he had the bronze blue duck cast and presented to the owners in the 1930's. This stands at the entrance to the premises.These photographs are of a building, in a remote area, that has provided a service to miners, anglers and travellers for over 100 years and continues to do so today. It also played a vital role in the history of the Mt. Wills/Omeo gold mining days.3 Post cards, Black and White photographs. 3 small black and white photographsPost Card No. 1 - "Blue Duck Hotel- Omeo-Glen wills road Ray Love Series No.2"(written on lower front) Post Card No. 2- "Looking towards Bogong High Plains. Omeo-Glen Wills road"(front, bottom, L hand) Ray Love Series No. 18 (front, lower R hand corner) On both of above photos, centre back, is stamped POST CARD and underneath this is printed "A GENUINE PHOTOGRAPH'/ Post Card No. 3 - Bottom L hand corner "Mystic Sea Australian Alps". R hand corner "(Bulmer Copyright)". Each small photograph, handwritten on back "Blue duck Hotel". All have circular stamp with "Print by Wilson White Albury" blue duck hotel; anglers rest; omeo highway; fishing; mining

The late W.F. “Bill” Waters, Rover Commissioner of Victoria, was introduced to skiing in November 1930 at the International Scout Chalet at Kandersteg in Switzerland. He believed it would be a good activity for Victorian Rovers to be involved in to learn more about the Victorian Alps The first Rover ski trip to the Bogong High Plains was in the August of 1932 when a group of four crossed the High Plains from Omeo to Harrietville via Tawonga Huts, Cobungra Gap, Mt Loch and Mt Feathertop. In 1933 the Bogong Rover Crew was formed and in 1938 funds were collected and life memberships offered to raise funds to build a Rover Chalet for the purposes of skiing. During February and March1940, the Chalet was built at a cost of £700 using volunteer labour. It was the first ski lodge in the area and was built long before there was a road over Watchbed Creek. After the road to Rocky Valley was finished it was easier for the scouts to walk in from there instead of from Shannonvale. During the spring thaw the creek became almost impassable. Joe Holsten who was an SEC employee who worked with Martin Romuld out of Wilkinson’s Hut built a bridge across the creek made entirely from snow gums which he had to haul about 300 metres from the nearby hills. It became known as the Harbour Bridge as it arched over the water just like the Sydney Harbour Bridge.These images are significant because they depict an early bridge structure to enable easier travelling across the Bogong High Plains.Three black and white photos taken at the Harbour Bridge, Watchbed Creek.harbour bridge bogong high plains, watchbed creek, joe holsten

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 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 item is significant because it documents actions taken by the Falls Creek Tourist Area Management Committee in their role overseeing the Tourist Area.A detailed circular in preparation for the 1968 winter season. Key topics included:- the rezoning of car parking and some roads also involving the opening of the road between Mt. Beauty and the Omeo Highway becoming a public road called the Bogong High Plains Tourist Road; snow clearing on roads and the use of chains; use of "Yellow Horse" shuttle service: slope preparation and the "Ratrac" snow packing machine; chair lift ticket prices; concerns re straying cattle and a water supply and sewerage update. Over the summer some new buildings had been constructed bringing beds available on the mountain to about 1,350 and a clean up of the Village would be organised before the season began. Tobogganing areas were discussed, The need for publicity was stressed and the Committee saw this as the responsibility of those who would benefit most. Consistent approaches to snow reporting, loutishness and garbage were called for. Oversnow transport, Ski School, Snow Patrol were outlined. Finally the need to foster positive relations and a coordinated approach towards public relations was called for.falls creek tourist area management committee, falls creek administration

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 features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. The cover features a photo of the Chair Lift and Slopes of Frying Pan Spur by Eric Burt. Page 130 again included an advertisement for Snow Crystal Inn managed by Milan Kovacic and page 133 advertised vacancies at Grand Coeur Chalet. A memorial notice for the death of George Fitzgerald of Shannonvale, a pioneer of Omeo, Victoria, builder of Fitzgerald Hut is on page 137. A brief description of the beauty of Bogong Township in Autumn is on page 140 and a short article describing Falls Creek - Gateway to the High Plains is found on page 155. On page 166 developments made in Falls Creek since the previous winter are explained.schuss journal, the ski club of victoria, george fitzgerald of shannonvale, frying pan spur, falls creek 1958

This volume of 350 pages includes 34 maps, 326 illustrations and diagrams. It has a brown cloth with white lettering and a pictorial jacket featuring cattlemen on the High Plains. It includes an index and bibliography. The front page has an inscription which indicates it had been given to Ore Frueauf of Falls Creek.non-fictionThis book records the development of Victoria's alpine regions by the pioneer cattlemen. They came from the Monaro in the 1830s to reach the Plains of Omeo while others advanced up the Murray tributaries to discover the Bogong High Plains in the 1830s and the Gippslanders moved their herds to Alpine pastures in the 1860s. The cattlemen, the snow plain pastures, the mountain scene and the bush huts are described and illustrated in this volume. It records an era in Australia whose story is becoming lost.victorian high country, mountain cattlemen, victorian high plains

A book of 224 pages including maps, illustrations and photographic images, both black and white and colour. It includes a bibliography.The lives of the mountain cattlemen of Victoria's alpine country revolve around the annual muster held before the first snowfall of autumn, when they bring their cattle down to lower pastures for winter feeding, or consign them for auction at the annual calf sales in Omeo or Myrtleford. The close-knit communities of cattlemen share the common hazards of this mountainous region, enduring the snow and freezing conditions of winter and the threat of ravaging bushfires in summer, finding shelter from the harshness of the environment in little huts which they built from the rough materials available. But the dangers of steep slopes and rocky terrain, in which more than one drover has lost his life, hold no terrors for them. These tough and resourceful cattlemen are self-sufficient and skilful in everything they do, whether it is bushmanship, horse-riding, or telling tall tales. In this book their yarns and reminiscences about their mates, their horses and Hereford cattle, and their indispensable dogs, reveal a characteristic courage and endurance, and an indomitable sense of humour. This book provides an enduring record of a vanishing breed of Australians, folk heroes in their own right, whose lives form the basis of verse and legend.mountain cattlemen, cattle breeders victoria, australian cattlemen, bogong high plains history