Guthega, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Guthega, New South Wales is a ski village and hydro electric dam site located in the Kosciuszko National Park
, on the upper reaches of the Snowy River
in the Snowy Mountains
of New South Wales
, Australia
. The village is made up of private lodges, a restaurant and bar, commercial accommodation, and facilities for snow sports and other outdoor recreation. It is also the site for the Guthega Power Station - a dam used to generate hydro electricity as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme
, now managed by Snowy Hydro.
were nomadic between Canberra, the Monaro plains, and into the Snowy Mountains for over 20 000 years. Pressures from European Settlers caused an increase in inter-tribal wars possibly taking place in the mountain areas around the Snowy River and similar water ways http://www.kunama.com/custlaw/CH2.HTM. Diseases introduced by the settlers such as Small Pox, Syphilis
, Influenza
, Measles
and Tuberculosis
devastated Aboriginal populations, and by 1850 the survivors had all moved off their traditional lands, giving up their lifestyles to live with the Europeans around Cooma http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/SouthEasternHighlands-History.htm.
Herbert Henry Schlink, Eric Fisher, William Gordon, W Hughes and John Laidley make the first winter crossing of the Main Range
from Kiandra to Kosciusko in 1927.
Guthega was declared a dam and hydro election power station site by the Snowy Mountains Scheme
in 1949 http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/imageservices/index.php/2009/10/marking-the-snowy-schemes-60th-anniversary/. Road works for the Guthega Power Station began in 1951 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2829318A with the dam beginning in 1952. A Norwegian group was contracted to build the power station, and Guthega became known as "Little Norway", containing the largest number of Norwegians living outside Norway at the time http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/snowy-hydro-snowy-mts-scheme/clip1/. Power was first generated by the station 1955 http://www.naa.gov.au/whats-on/online/showcases/power/guthega-power.aspx.
Recreational skiing began at Guthega in the late 1950s with the first rope tow for downhill skiing being installed on Mount Tate's East Ridge by the SMA Ski Club in 1957. The YMCA Ski Club (now the Brindabella Ski Club) built two huts and one rope tow in 1960, and started running ski lessons with lodging. The SMA Tow hut burned down in 1965 and it was not replaced, but the first T-bar tow was erected on the West slopes of Mount Blue Calf that same year. In 1966 Walter Spanring and his wife Hannelore (Eberstaller), key developers of Guthega's ski areas to date, built the Guthega Hotel (later becoming the Guthega Alpine Hotel). In 1974 Peter Aynsley designed the Australian Ski Club lodge next to the Guthega Hotel and with financial assistance from the smaller ski clubs in the area, expansion of the skiing facilities on the West Face of Mount Blue Calf began in 1975. In 1980 new investors where brought in, and further development saw car parks, a chairlift, a ski centre and general upgrades completed by 1983 http://www.christianacapital.com/Text/1201316577093-6700/. Guthega's new ski facilities were launched in 1983 with an international marketing campaign http://www.christianacapital.com/Text/1211694974046-9255/ that included:
In 1991, Guthega was purchased by the Alpine Australia Group Pty Limited, the then operator of the Blue Cow Resort. This led to the operation of two resorts becoming integrated in 1992, thus providing day access into Guthega via the Skitube alpine railway and the Blue Cow and Link Management Unit ski slopes. Guthega is now part of Perisher Blue.
Guthega skiing today is included in the trail maps of the Perisher Blue ski resort, and a chair lift and two T-bars are sometimes operated from Guthega to link with Perisher Blue depending on demand. As well as downhill skiing, Guthega serves as a base for alpine and cross country skiers and boarders seeking access to relatively sheltered aspects and wilderness experiences, as well ice climbers heading to Blue Lake
. In summer months it is used as a destination for sight seers and people enjoying recreation in the surrounding Kosciuszko National Park
.
Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park covers 690,000 hectares and contains mainland Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko for which it is named, and Cabramurra the highest town in Australia...
, on the upper reaches of the Snowy River
Snowy River
The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. It originates on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, before flowing through the Snowy River National Park in Victoria and emptying into...
in the Snowy Mountains
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The village is made up of private lodges, a restaurant and bar, commercial accommodation, and facilities for snow sports and other outdoor recreation. It is also the site for the Guthega Power Station - a dam used to generate hydro electricity as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme
Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Snowy Mountains scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. It consists of sixteen major dams; seven power stations; a pumping station; and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts and was constructed between 1949 and 1974. The Chief engineer was Sir...
, now managed by Snowy Hydro.
History
The Aboriginal cultural group NgarigoNgarigo
The Ngarigo is the Aboriginal people group whose traditional lands lie south-east of the Canberra area.According to Norman Tindale in his 1974 catalogue of Australian Aboriginal people groups, the specific areas lands of the Ngarigo are:...
were nomadic between Canberra, the Monaro plains, and into the Snowy Mountains for over 20 000 years. Pressures from European Settlers caused an increase in inter-tribal wars possibly taking place in the mountain areas around the Snowy River and similar water ways http://www.kunama.com/custlaw/CH2.HTM. Diseases introduced by the settlers such as Small Pox, Syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
, Influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, Measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
and Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
devastated Aboriginal populations, and by 1850 the survivors had all moved off their traditional lands, giving up their lifestyles to live with the Europeans around Cooma http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/SouthEasternHighlands-History.htm.
Herbert Henry Schlink, Eric Fisher, William Gordon, W Hughes and John Laidley make the first winter crossing of the Main Range
Main Range
Main Range may mean:* Main Range National Park, Queensland, Australia* Main Range , New South Wales, Australia-See also:* Main Ranges, also known as the Park Ranges, a group of mountain ranges in the Canadian Rockies...
from Kiandra to Kosciusko in 1927.
Guthega was declared a dam and hydro election power station site by the Snowy Mountains Scheme
Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Snowy Mountains scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. It consists of sixteen major dams; seven power stations; a pumping station; and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts and was constructed between 1949 and 1974. The Chief engineer was Sir...
in 1949 http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/imageservices/index.php/2009/10/marking-the-snowy-schemes-60th-anniversary/. Road works for the Guthega Power Station began in 1951 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2829318A with the dam beginning in 1952. A Norwegian group was contracted to build the power station, and Guthega became known as "Little Norway", containing the largest number of Norwegians living outside Norway at the time http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/snowy-hydro-snowy-mts-scheme/clip1/. Power was first generated by the station 1955 http://www.naa.gov.au/whats-on/online/showcases/power/guthega-power.aspx.
Recreational skiing began at Guthega in the late 1950s with the first rope tow for downhill skiing being installed on Mount Tate's East Ridge by the SMA Ski Club in 1957. The YMCA Ski Club (now the Brindabella Ski Club) built two huts and one rope tow in 1960, and started running ski lessons with lodging. The SMA Tow hut burned down in 1965 and it was not replaced, but the first T-bar tow was erected on the West slopes of Mount Blue Calf that same year. In 1966 Walter Spanring and his wife Hannelore (Eberstaller), key developers of Guthega's ski areas to date, built the Guthega Hotel (later becoming the Guthega Alpine Hotel). In 1974 Peter Aynsley designed the Australian Ski Club lodge next to the Guthega Hotel and with financial assistance from the smaller ski clubs in the area, expansion of the skiing facilities on the West Face of Mount Blue Calf began in 1975. In 1980 new investors where brought in, and further development saw car parks, a chairlift, a ski centre and general upgrades completed by 1983 http://www.christianacapital.com/Text/1201316577093-6700/. Guthega's new ski facilities were launched in 1983 with an international marketing campaign http://www.christianacapital.com/Text/1211694974046-9255/ that included:
- Range Rover Australian Freestyle Championships
- Peter Stuyvesant International Pro-Am Dual Slalom
- Australian Playboy's $10,000 "Girls of the Snow" Quest
- Cold Chisel in concert at The Lake Jindabyne Hotel for the Playboy grand final
- Ovaltine ski racing for amateurs and recreational skiers
In 1991, Guthega was purchased by the Alpine Australia Group Pty Limited, the then operator of the Blue Cow Resort. This led to the operation of two resorts becoming integrated in 1992, thus providing day access into Guthega via the Skitube alpine railway and the Blue Cow and Link Management Unit ski slopes. Guthega is now part of Perisher Blue.
Guthega skiing today is included in the trail maps of the Perisher Blue ski resort, and a chair lift and two T-bars are sometimes operated from Guthega to link with Perisher Blue depending on demand. As well as downhill skiing, Guthega serves as a base for alpine and cross country skiers and boarders seeking access to relatively sheltered aspects and wilderness experiences, as well ice climbers heading to Blue Lake
Blue Lake
Blue Lake may refer to:Australia*Blue Lake *Blue Lake *Blue Lake National Park, Queensland, on North Stradbroke IslandCroatia*Blue Lake New Zealand...
. In summer months it is used as a destination for sight seers and people enjoying recreation in the surrounding Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park
Kosciuszko National Park covers 690,000 hectares and contains mainland Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko for which it is named, and Cabramurra the highest town in Australia...
.
Buildings
- Guthega Road
- Guthega Power Station
- The Australian Ski Club.
- Guthega Ski Club
- Guthega Alpine Hotel, a 12 room hotel and bar specialising in lunch with views of the main range.
Natural features
- Snowy RiverSnowy RiverThe Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. It originates on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, before flowing through the Snowy River National Park in Victoria and emptying into...
- Mount Blue Calf
- Guthega River
- Blue LakeBlue LakeBlue Lake may refer to:Australia*Blue Lake *Blue Lake *Blue Lake National Park, Queensland, on North Stradbroke IslandCroatia*Blue Lake New Zealand...
- Snowy MountainsSnowy MountainsThe Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....
External links
- View more information on the development of Guthega
- A river to be turned - 1952 documentary film about the building of Guthega Dam
- WikiSki entry for Guthega
- Perisher Blue ski lifts and trail maps
- Google search The history of Guthega in a timeline