This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. The Victorian Ski Club Association was established in July 1955 to combine the interests of all Victorian ski clubs to advance the combined objectives of the clubs in the development of Victorian skiing areas and advancing the technical standards of the sport. The Association had 33 Foundation member clubs and a further five clubs joined in its first year, representing over 3,500 individual members. 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 is representative of the Association which coordinated and supported the development of snow skiing in Victoria from the mid 1950s.A sticker bearing the logo of the Victorian Ski Association printed in blue and green with a plastic coating. VICTORIAN SKI ASSOCIATIONgeorge shirling, victorian ski association, snow skiing in victoria 1950s

Timeline of Falls Creek during the 1950sFalls Creek is a snow resort on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria. The 1950s saw the village develop from its beginning to a popular ski resort.10 pages stapled top left corner. Includes a timeline of Falls Creek from early 1950s to the late 1950s. Titled 'The Village' and handwritten on one side only.falls creek, skiing, tourism, snow resort

In the early 1950s snow skiing was becoming more popular as indicated by these two books of 94 pages covering the snow fields in N.S.W., Victoria and Tawmania. The first publication was limited to the Kosciusko Alpine Club in 1928. The 1952 edition being the 25th issue. Due to the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme many SECV employees had access to the Bogong High Plains including Falls Creek. These books are of historical value as indicated by the advertisements for the resorts, the equipment in the snow eg. tows, skis and clothes being used at the time, the results of ski races, etc. The accommodation has also developed and attracted a variety of people. The articles include disasters, people involved in the sport and overseas updates. In the 1952 book relevant pages for the Bogong High Plains and Falls Creek are pages 36, 38, and 68-69. In the 1953 book relevant pages are 62 and 71-72 and for aborigines 66 - 69Both books have a greyish photo as a cover with the title and year. Each book has 94 pages of soft paper. The books consist of advertisements, a Contents page and articles. Photos and diagrams are in black and white. On the front covers is written: "K. Mills"bogong high plains, skiing, falls creek, aborigines

The introduction: "Skiing has been a sport in Victoria since the turn of the century. It has only been popular since the 1950s however, when the Alpine areas were opened up to commercial development."Employees of the SECV skied on the High Plains during the construction of the KHES. In 1946 the first lodge was approved by the SEC at Falls Creek. See Falls Creek pages 6-11 for details of amenities in 198048 pages held by 2 staples. 1980 Issue. Front Cover "Victoria has mountains of snow". In color - skier in front of trees laden with snow.Front cover in pen and underlined "J. Watson"falls creek ski resort, snow sport

Snow Crystal Inn was built by Milan Kovacic in the early 1950s. Milan, born in Hungary, had the early days of his life in Victoria at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp in Wodonga. He became a ski instructor and one of his earliest students was Skippy St. Elmo. The Inn was later demolished and replaced with Snow Crystal Apartments.This image is significant because it captures one of the early lodges established at Falls Creek.A black and white image of Snow Crystal Lodge surrounded by heavy snow. Visitors can be seen seated on the balcony.Above balcony: Snow Crystal Innsnow crystal inn, milan kovacic, skippy st. elmo

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.These ski passes are significant because they were issued to a pioneer of the ski industry in Falls Creek, Victoria.Passes for Phyl and Bill Bridgford for 1991' 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.Card 1 - 91 Season Adult BILL BRIDGFORD "SNOW CRYSTAL" Card 2 - 91 Season Adult PHYL BRIDGFORD "SNOW CRYSTAL" Card 3 - 91 ADULT MORNING AUG 18 - 18 VIC VETERANS RACE !! On Reverse - instructions $032.00 Card 4 - 91 1 DAY ADLT JUL 26 - 26 FRYERS FRIDAY FRENZY On Reverse - instructions $043.00bill bridgford, 1991 season pass, vic veterans race falls creek 1991

These photographs were taken in and around Falls Creek by Samuel Keith Pearce and printed for him as a foldout postcard by NuColor Vue. The postcards state they were printed for S. K. Pearce Pty. Ltd of Tawonga and Mount Beauty. Samuel Keith Pearce was born on 24 June 1917 in Armadale, Victoria. By the late 1940s he owned the Mt Beauty Supermarket, Newsagency, Drapery and Hardware store at Mount Beauty and also a store at Tawonga in partnership with his brother Gordon Cathew Pearce. For some time, they operated as Pearce Brothers. In the early 1960s Keith also opened a mini mart In Falls Creek. As well as being a keen photographer and an astute businessman, Keith Pearce was a well-known identity in the Kiewa Valley, making many contributions to the development of the area over a long period. This included serving as a member of the Bright Shire Council for many years. He worked hard to promote the interests of the Upper Kiewa Valley. As a sign of recognition and appreciation for his contribution to the community, the park opposite the grocery store in Mount Beauty was named the SK Pearce Gardens in his honour. Samuel Keith Pearce died on 7 July 1994 in Mount Beauty, VictoriaThis collection of postcards and image is significant because they were commissioned by a highly successful business in Falls Creek, Victoria.A high definition photo of the first Ski Jump beside the Snow Crystal Inn and Bogong Ski Lodge. The Snow Crystal Inn was built by Milan Kovacic in the early 1950s. It has since been demolished and rebuilt. The Bogong Ski Club was established in the 1940s and built a clubhouse in the Falls Creek basin. The original building later burned down and a new Lodge was constructed.falls creek resort, tows and lifts at falls creek, snow crystal appartments

This photo is part of the Fred Griffith Photographic Collection documenting his time with the Australian Alpine Club and the formation of the Albury 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.These images record conditions at Falls Creek in the late 1950sBlack and white photos Falls Creek with people queuing for the tow or skiing in the background. Late 1950sbogong, falls creek, snow, snowfields