Historical information

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.

Significance

This Staff Identification Card is significant because it belonged to David Osborn who lead developments at Falls Creek in the late 1980s.

Physical description

A staff identification tag featuring a coloured photograph of David Osborn. He came to Falls Creek to take up the position of General Manager, Falls Creek Ski Lifts Pty. Ltd. He continued in this role until 1990 when he was offered the position of Managing Director at Thredbo. During his period as General Manager major projects carried out at Falls Creek were:- the construction of Halleys Comet Chairlift, Slalom Street Plaza development, the introduction of snowmaking, Cloud 9 Restaurant, the construction of the Scott Chair and the Village Bowl. In 2022 David Osborn released a book, "Falls Creek Stories 1984 - 1990" which documents the developments which occurred in Falls Creek and the people who made them possible.

Inscriptions & markings

At top: FALLS CREEK 1989
Below photo: FALLS CREEK SKI LIFTS PTY.LTD
STAFF IDENTIFICATION
David Osborn
General Manager