Carlo Catani was prominent in the opening up of Victoria's scenic tourist destinations including the alpine resorts of Mt Buffalo and Mt Donna Buang. Catani supported and surveyed the main road and tracks, the Chalet, the golf course and the lake (which was named in his honour).

On January 24, 1908 the first sod was turned on a new road between Porepunkah and Mount Buffalo. This road was engineered by Carlo Catani and was designed to open up the Mount Buffalo plateau and its striking landscape, including many interesting granite formations and stunning views for tourists. The road was completed that October and was officially opened by the Premier, Thomas Bent. The woman on the right of the photograph, holding the ribbon, is Alice Manfield. Alice was the daughter of James and Jane Manfield, who operated an early chalet on the mountain. Alice, known as Guide Alice, was a noted naturalist, tour guide and keen photographer.

Photograph caption: Alice is seen holding the ribbon as the Premier of Victoria, Sir Thomas Bent, officiates at the opening of the road to Mount Buffalo. Carlo Catani is just left of the Premier.

Lake Catani was created by the damming of the Eurobin Creek, with the construction of the weir forming a lake of 58 acres (23 hectares).

The lake was often referred to as a skating lake - a popular location for winter holiday makers, but also used for fishing and water sports. The lake was a project of Carlo Catani’s and it was established to help make Mount Buffalo a year-round tourist resort.

In January 1911, this lake was named in honour of Carlo Catani at the suggestion of the Bright Shire Council in recognition of the work undertaken by Catani in opening up the mountain as a tourist resort.

With the construction of the road to the summit of Mount Buffalo, along with a number of scenic tracks, the Government expected an influx of tourists, and decided to build the chalet. Once located at Mount Buffalo were the former Carlisle and Manfield Hospices.

The initial plans for the chalet were drawn up by Mr G.H.B. Austin, of the Public Works Department and in September 1908 Carlo Catani surveyed a site for the building. The original plan was to build the chalet of local granite, but this was soon changed to weatherboard for financial reasons. The Mount Buffalo Chalet was opened around August 1910.

On Saturday, February 25, 1911 a nine-hole golf course was opened on the plateau near the Chalet.

The course was surveyed by and constructed under the supervision of Carlo Catani. Catani was to engage professional golfer, Richard ‘Dick’ Banks to lay out the course. The fairway was sown with alpine grass seed especially imported from Italy.

Photograph caption: The Minister for Lands, Mr McKenzie, driving the first ball at the Mt Buffalo plateau golf course. Carlo Catani is present, second from the left.

Carlo Catani’s contribution to the development of Mount Buffalo as a tourist resort was also marked by the unveiling of a plaque mounted a large granite rock with the inscription: ‘Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of Public Works, 1910-1917. Ye who seek his memorial look around’.

These years mark the competition of the lake and the chalet, which coincided with Catani’s elevation to the position of Acting Inspector General of Public Works.