This postcard was produced in the 1950's for the tourist trade in the Kiewa Valley and Alpine region. It encompasses the period when the State of Victoria was pressured by the ever increasing demand by industry and its population for electricity supplies. Hydro electricity was seen as an untapped natural resource to quench this demand. The Victorian Alps and the rivers flowing into its valleys was ideal for the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme. The late 1940's saw the development of this scheme and the changing of sections of alpine landscape is covered by this and other postcards/pictures (tourists, construction workers, and established rural populations). This period in time was before the established wildlife and forest/nature groups became political activist who changed legislative acts to protect the environment. The regulatory pondage on the northern aspect of the village had no water over-spill from the unfinished power station.This rural region in 1950 (Kiewa Valley/alpine plains) was at most only significant to a smaller group of winter sports, summer hikers/horse riders and rural farmers/graziers. The numbers of tourists and the increase in the local resident population was boosted by the construction of the Hydro Electricity Scheme. This influx to the regional population resulted in a corresponding diversity in services and brought about an environment that responded to a growing level of tourists and thereby permitting this industry to grow more rapidly than it would have naturally. This postcard details an attraction to the "cleaner" method of providing electricity. This postcard was purchased in 1950 by a surveyor at Landford's Gap. The couple shown in this photograph would have been employed by the S.E.C. under the Kiewa Hydro-Electricity Scheme.This item is a scanned black and white photograph of a panoramic view of Mount Beauty Village in 1950 (a closed village, entry by pass only). The regulatory pondage has earthen walls but no water.See 0480 (A) -(D) and (F) for other photos of similar postcards"MT. BEAUTY VILLAGE KIEWA HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT"kiewa valley tourism, victorian alps, alternate energy supplies, alpine population growth

From the earliest days of white settlement in the Orbost district, people used the Snowy River for recreation and transport. A local swimming hole was adjacent to the butter factory and was a deep hole. The diving board has been improvised. This photo appears to date from c.1920-1940s. The 50 metres swimming pool was constructed in the 1960s following a huge community campaign. This photo is significant because it shows the use of the Snowy River as a recreation resource prior to the construction of a community swimming pool. A b/w photo of a group of children, three swimming and five on a diving board. One at the end of the diving board has a swimming costume, others are fully dressed. This is 'THE BIG HOLE' on the Snowy just beyond the butter factory. Water about 8ft. deep straight off the bank. We were all very good swimmers and played there for hours and hours."swimming, snowy river, recreation