Historical information
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).
Significance
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’s
Physical description
Colour 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
Inscriptions & markings
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
