These clamps were invented by Egil E Hyggen in 1968, for which he was awarded a major design prize in Norway. According to the company which manufactured them, Christiana Spigerverk, they ended production in the mid 1980s but were available in many countries for much longer.This item is significant because it shows how snow driving safety has evolved over time.A set of Norwegian manufactured wheel clamps for safe driving in snow and icy conditions. They are displayed with a poster explaining application.wheel clamps, snow driving safety, snow grips, snow chains and safety 1970s

Hobnailed boots are boots with hobnails (nails inserted into the soles of the boots), usually installed in a regular pattern, over the sole. They also usually have an iron horseshoe-shaped insert, called a heel iron, to strengthen the heel, and an iron toe-piece. The hobnails project below the sole and provide traction on soft or rocky ground and snow, but they tend to slide on smooth hard surfaces. They may also have steel toecaps. When Army boots were made 100% of leather, to get some grip on the soles hob-nails were hammered into them. These boots are an example of the foot wear worn by the eA dark brown leather pair of very heavy hob-nailed boots. They have nails inserted into the soles of the boots in a regular pattern, over the sole. The toes and the heels have been strengthened with metal. The boots are made to lace up at the front.boots-hobnailed footwear

There are many ways of travelling over snow - skis, toboggans, sleds, using snow shoes, machines, horses etc. This 'snow scooter' appears to have been handmade for faster transport (than walking) over snow. Machines with engines 'snow mobiles' are more commonly used nowadays. This snow scooter was possibly used at Falls Creek for moving around the village during winter.Wooden plank curved and lifting at the front and at the end of the back an attached small rectangular wooden framed plastic grid (for non slippery foothold). Underneath plank - at front is a metal rudder that swivels when the handle is turned and at the back are 2 metal fixed 'rudders'.At the front, on top, is a metal stand forming a triangle (for stability) with a steel rod which goes through the plank to the front rudder and up to a bicycle type handle at the top. The handle has red plastic handle grips on the ends. The join of the metal bars half way up is with a butterfly nut. snow scooter; snow transport; falls creek

This traction device was made to increase traction and braking on slippery surfaces eg. snow / ice and can be fitted on two wheels on one or more axles of a vehicle. These devices can fit many wheel sizes. these 'snow chains' were used in the early 1970's.These vehicle traction devices were used at Falls Creek during winter.Rusted steel device used to grip vehicle wheels to enable traction over slippery surfaces. Four steel curved prongs connected at a solid steel rectangular centre. Each prong has teeth at the centre enabling it to fit through and be moved for tightening. The prongs are at 90 degrees to each other. The steel prongs are 'waved' on the outer wheel where they contact the surface of the ground. On the outside of the centre piece a coiled piece of steel is attached extending out to curve around one of the prongs Inside centre on steel rectangular plate: "Christiana Spigervek" / "Norway Patent Nos. 116148 / 116188 / Norway / Foreign Patents Pending."snow chain; vehicle traction device; falls creek

The post World War II migration of European "snow skiiers" into Australia combined with the construction of Hydo Electricity Schemes in both the N.S.W.and Victorian Alps regions, opened up these winter snow areas to a greater influx of tourists and holiday adventurers interested in "winter" sports. The ability to project, on a global scale, skiing facilities of international standards to those in the northern hemisphere during their summer has opened up the Australia ski resorts and their facilities to a much greater winter sport orientated population. These cross country skis were purchased by a member of the Bogong Ski Club and were part of a bulk ski stock consignment from Finland in 1966/67. They were introduced into the Victorian Alps to encourage skiers to take up cross country skiing both at Falls Creek and Mount Buller. This initiative spurred on the now annual 42 kilometre cross country "Kangaroo Hoppet" race at Falls Creek. This race is currently the biggest cross country snow skiing race in Australia. These snow skis were made in Finland. They are wooden (hickory) skis and made from four strips (glued and shaped) pieces of wood that are not laminated. There is a painted blue flash on the top of the skis that extends the full length of the skis. The face of the underside of the skis is flat and is coated in black Stockholm tar. Glider or grip wax was applied onto this base. The top body of the skis is tapered from shoe position to both front and back tips.Tapered curvatures from foot radiating to all sides provides the required aerodynamics. Metal boot bindings consisting of a toe plate with adjustable toe clip and a heel plate, both of which are screwed onto the skis. "KILPA, KARHU URHEILUTARPEITA SPORTART1KLAR, Karhu-Valtz Finland. Hickorypohjin"snow skiing, cross country skiing, falls creek winter tourism

Chains were used to prevent vehicles from slipping on the terrain. They were fitted onto the driving wheels for extra grip.Used on large vehicles during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme when the terrain was slippery eg. mud, snowIron chains connected to form rectangles with extended links at each end with clips. Used to fit on the driving wheels of large vehicles eg. bus, tractor, snow vehicle.heavy vehicles, construction vehicles, snow chains

These seal skin straps and webbing were introduced into the Victorian Alps by European engineers, conducting survey work for the SEC Hydro scheme in the late 1930s. This period in time produced many immigrants from a war torn Europe with highly developed technical skills. Many of these immigrants provided articles that were well suited to the alpine regions of Australia, ones they used in their homelands. These were times when the home grown cultures of the Anglo Saxon heritage of the earlier settlers within the Kiewa Valley became interwoven with the various European cultures and this formed, what in later years became the beginning of the Australian multi-cultural society. The Kiewa Valley and its surrounding regions where the major rural areas which did not progress in a so typical Aussie "dinky-di", "she'll be right" fashion. The European influence was however not too strong, so as to obliterate the flavour of the home grown rural society.The major populated sections of the upper Kiewa Valley and the Alpine regions were accelerated by the SEC Hydro Development which brought into the slow growing rural regions a quasi multi ethnic society, however this was only noticeable up to the time when the final Power Station was commissioned in the 1960s. The slight variations to the typical Australian rural settlements of the time were in some food preparations, winter apparel such as these seal skin straps and soles and "langlauf" (cross-country skis). The sealskins were sewn so that their grain ran from front to back thereby allowing the skins to grip going up hill and glide going downhill.The gardens and varieties of flowering shrubs and trees where also more in line with traditional European "outdoor" settings. Seal skin sewn onto one side of a strap of webbing. There is a webbing loop on the front that slips over a small point at the front of the ski. There is a webbing strap attached to the back of the seal skin sole coming over the back of ski that clips metal fasteners onto a loop of webbing behind the ski boot. alpine sports, snow skis, winter clothing, mount bogong recreational activities, snow sports