This photograph was taken circa 1981 - 1982 by Tourism Victoria. Orest “Ory” Frueauf was born in Kharkov, Russia in 1925 and moved to Germany with his family to escape persecution. He was conscripted to the German Army during the Second World War. He was a POW until 1948. He was recruited by a French construction company to work as and interpreter on a hydroelectricity project in Tasmania. Ory then moved to work on the Snowy Mountain Scheme including driving a truck to fill the wall of the Rocky Valley dam. In 1952 Ory was recruited by the Albury Ski Club as its lodge supervisor. That year he also entered into a business partnership with Cecil Dobson, running the general store “Whitehaven” and Post Office at Falls Creek. They extended their business by adding accommodation turning Whitehaven into one of the best commercial lodges at Falls Creek. Ory and Cecil dissolved their business partnership in 1963 and Ory went on to build a new lodge called “Snowhaven” at the site of the present day Frueauf Village, Falls Creek. The trail known as Ory's Trail is also named in his honour. Ory retired to Tawonga, Victoria in 1992 and passed away in 1999.This image is significant because it portrays a pioneer of Falls Creek.A4 size black and white photograph of Ory Frueauf standing at the bar at Snowhaven Lodge with Vovka-Finlandia VodkaOn back of photograph: Orest Freauf 1925-1997. 1925 - Born in Kharkov, Russia, 1951 Tasmania Hydro Electric Co; 1954 Howman's Gap, Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme; 1955 Falls Creek Trading and Transport Co; 1957 Winterhaven Ski Lodge; 1963 Snowhaven Ski Lodge; 1992 Tawonga Southory freauf, hydro electric, tourism victoria, winterhaven ski lodge, snowhaven ski lodge, snow, orest frueauf

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. In 1952 Orest “Ory” Frueauf entered into a business partnership with Cecil Dobson, running the general store “Whitehaven” and Post Office at Falls Creek. They extended their business by adding accommodation turning Whitehaven into one of the best commercial lodges at Falls Creek. Ory and Cecil dissolved their business partnership in 1963 and Ory went on to build a new lodge called “Snowhaven” at the site of the present day Frueauf Village, Falls Creek. Ory retired to Tawonga, Victoria in 1992 and passed away in 1999. 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 is linked In to an early lodge and to Orest Frueauf, a pioneer of Falls Creek.A match book printed in blue and white for Winterhaven Lodge, Falls Creek. It includes the postal address and telephone number. The back features an advertisement for Diners Club International.george shirling, winterhaven ski lodge, orest frueauf

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 an Eric Burt photo Dannielle Forras of Mount Buller, daughter of Ernest Forras. The photo is titled "The right age to start". Page 332 mentions Cecil Dobson and Orest Frueauf plans to open a new chalet "Winter Haven" for the next season. Page 333 includes a photo of the trophy presentation at the Falls Creek Junior Championship in September 1958. Page 345 features results from the Albury Ski Club Racing Carnival and the two Myrtleford results held on the same day.schuss journal, albury ski club carnival, myrtleford ski club, cecil dobson, orest frueauf, winterhaven ski lodge

After World War II, the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme was started in the Kiewa River valley by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. On land previously used only for summer cattle grazing in the natural alpine grasslands, the first ski lodge was built in 1948 by workers from the scheme. The first lift, a rope tow, was built in 1951 and the first chairlift in Australia was constructed there in 1957. Falls Creek Post Office opened on 9 June 1958 (with telegraph and telephone facilities only until 1964) .Despite strong opposition from the head of the Kiewa scheme, who didn't want tourists clogging up his roads and destroying his "dry" construction camps by bringing in booze, Falls Creek boomed as much as Hotham, partly owing to its relatively good access road. Early lodges included Bogong (c.1946), Skyline (1947), Albury (1949), Myrtleford (1949) and Dawn (c.1950).The souvenir postcard photographed and produced by an enterprising local businessman Mr S K Pearce, was produced as a memento for skiers and other visitors to the Falls Creek and Mt Beauty area to send to family and friends as a reminder of their visit to the region, or to keep as a personal souvenir. It presented an excellent promotional opportunity for enterprising local businessmen to promote the area to skiers and tourists near and far. It also presents an excellent pictorial history of the falls creek area around the late 1950’s to early 1960’sColour postcard folder (unused) containing 13 photographs of the Falls Creek ski area and surrounds. Inside cover has a brief description of the area and the services available to visitors Printed on front cover- FALLS CREEK SKI VILLAGE. Your Souvenir Folder Photo of skiing slopes of the village Inside front flap - a brief description of the Falls Creek area and the services available to visitors 1. Diana Lodge parking area and Spion Kopje 2. Winterhaven Lodge 3. Ski Hirage Centre and skiing slopes 4. Ski Lodges from main road 5. Nelse and Arundel Lodges 6. Day visitors’ shelter and parking area 7. Summit T-Bar lift 8. Spur T-bar looking towards Village and Spion Kopje 9. T-bar lower station and Snow Crystal Inn 10. ‘Akja’ rescue sled in use 11. Falls Creek road and Grand Coeur Lodge annex 12. Rope tows and beginner slopes 13. Back cover- Published by Nucolorvue Pty Ltd Mentone Vic. Printed in Australia For S.K.Pearce Pty Ltd Tawonga and Mt Beauty falls creek, snow, bogong high plains, victorian alps

Falls Creek Primary School Prior to 1965, couples with small children would move away from Falls Creek due to there being no school facilities in the village. In the mid 60's a few families with school age children established themselves in the village, and a need arose for a school to encourage them to stay. An enrolment of seven children and a building was required before the Education Department could become involved. The Management Committee of the day gifted the families some land (still the site of the Falls Creek Primary School No. 5067) and fundraising began. The original committee consisted of the Steven family (two children), the Lee family (three children), the Caddie family (no children), the Carroll family (no children), and the Alston family (children?). After two years of community based, yet dubious fundraising methods (including weekly gluhwein parties, keg parties and numerous raffles), enough money ($1,300) was raised and an unused SEC building in Mt Beauty was bid on and won. Due to the condition of the road up to Falls Creek, it had to be dismantled and reassembled up the mountain. Unfortunately, the building was delivered to Falls Creek too late into the season to be erected but the following summer, with no money available to hire builders, working bees began, beer was on tap, and BBQs were cooked, and a crude schoolroom with an oil heater donated by Cecil Dobson from Winterhaven was erected. The first teacher hired was an Alaskan woman who agreed to a wage of $10 per child per week. Due to minimal resources the children were sent home at different times of the day in order to warm up and have a meal. Through the winter of 1971 many government departments were lobbied and it was decided that if the building could be finished to the Education Departments standards then they would provide a government endorsed full time teacher. The three main site holders (Bob Lee, Cecil Dobson and Dick Humphries) took out a loan and the school was refurbished and opened as the 'Bob Scott Memorial Hall' in time for the 1972 season. Maree Keele was the first Head Teacher. After three years of fund raising by the school committee the hall was paid off in full. After many years in the original building the Education Department took control of the school, updated the classrooms and provided accommodation for the teachers. In 1982, discussions began surrounding construction of a 'new' Falls Creek Primary School, a joint property with the community and the Education Department. After it was decided that the funds could not be raised fully by the community ($150,000), the Department constructed a new facility and students moved in on 1st July 1985.This image is significant because it includes children who became champion competitors at Victorian State, national and international level.A black and white photo of a group of children on a toboggan outside the Falls Creek Primary. It includes several future champion skiers. From back:- Kate Stevens, Pretty Valley Lodge, World Cup Freestyle representative and Champion; Tracey Lee, Attunga Lodge, Second in the Australian Freestyle and Australian Under Fifteen champion; Matthew Dobson, Winterhaven; Steven Lee, Attunga, three times Olympic and World Cup representative and competed on professional circuit; Chris Losch, Feathertop; Chris Heberle, Le Chalet, Cross Country Champion, eight times Australian Champion; Michelle Caddy, Geilo; Julie Smith: Vicki Losch, Feathertop: Debbie Humphreys, Powerhouse, Scott Caddy, Geilo: Sue Heberle, Le Chalet: Danielle Humphreys, Powerhouse, raced in State Championships and became ski instructor.falls creek primary school, falls creek education, falls creek skiers

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 postcard featuring an image of Winterhaven Lodge. In 1952 Orest “Ory” Freauf entered into a business partnership with Cecil Dobson, running the general store “Whitehaven” and Post Office at Falls Creek. They extended their business by adding accommodation turning Whitehaven into one of the best commercial lodges at Falls Creek.astra falls creek, falls creek accommodation, falls creek businesses

A part of a yearly marketing and information material promoting Falls Creek region for the summer holidays. The brochure outlines active and more relaxing options available at Falls Creek in the summer of 1989 - 90. Accommodation featured on the back cover includes:-Nelse Lodge, Falls Creek Motel, Viking, Lakeside LOdge, Winterhaven Lodge, Astra Lodge and Cooroona Ski Lodge.This item is important because it documents seasonal activities at Falls Creek Alpine ResortWhite A4 brochure for Summer at Falls Creek. White cover with grey title in capital letters - THIS SUMMER, WHAT WILL YOU FALL FOR AT FALLS? - with ba blue butterfly and framed image of pink flowers centred underneath. Opens to A3 size with internal double page and back page spread of images and information of Summer at Falls Creek. falls creek marketing, falls creek summer, accommodation falls creek

"The Australian Ski Year Book" was first published in 1928 by the Kosciusko Alpine Club and the Ski Club of Australia, which with the Kiandra Ski Club, were the oldest organisations for skiing in Australia. In later years organisations from Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand were included. It was published on behalf of N.S.W. Ski Council, Ski Club of Victoria, Ski Council of Tasmania, Ski Council of the Federated N.Z. Mountain Clubs. It aimed to provide an annual record of the sport of ski running in Australia, and of events elsewhere which would be of interest to Australian ski enthusiasts. This publication was a guide to all major resorts operation at the time in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Information about Falls Creek included a description of its location describing geographical features, its 12 ski tows and available services. The accommodation advertised included Winterhaven Lodge, Falls Creek Motel, Spargo's Lodge, Attunga Alpine Lodge, Nelse Alpine Lodge, Les Chalets, Julian Lodge and Koki and Karelia Alpine Lodges.This item is significant because it is an issue of a long-running Australian ski publication which includes items about Falls Creek, Victoria..The Australian Ski Year Book Resort Guide of 1981 includes information and advertising about resorts throughout Australia. Falls Creek information and Accommodation Guide featured on pages 10 & 11 of this issue.australian skiing, accommodation falls creek, falls creek resort