100 Years of Skiing at Mt Buller

If you thought a day carving up mountain slopes on skis or snowboards chews up a fair chunk of energy and physical exertion, spare a thought for the hardy trailblazers who first scaled the summit of Mount Buller a hundred years ago to take the very first ski turns on its slopes.

Only seven adventurers donned skis back in July of 1924 to zip down Mt Buller in the Victorian High Country, members of the newly formed Ski Club of Victoria (SCV). On a weekend excursion from Melbourne, after a drive, a horseback ride and a fair hike, they made history by being the first to slide down the slopes on skinny bits of wood.  Not only did they expend their energy racing downhill on rudimentary gear with heavy leather boots, they also had to clamber through alpine ash forests for hours uphill first, carrying their gear to reach the summit. That’s clear dedication!

That first downhill run was commemorated this year with a ‘season of celebrations’. This included a twinkling night torch-lit mountain descent with members of the SCV carrying 100 torches in a glowing line from top to bottom on the Bourke Street run. As fireworks exploded above, the whole resort stopped to witness the sight. 

The club’s 32^nd and current president Christian Munn, who’s been a member since he was five and skiing at Mt Buller since he was four, led the torch-run and spoke proudly of the event and those who came before.

“We celebrated as a community, honouring the triumphs of our pioneers and fellow club members who paved the way for the sport we love,” said Munn.

“When you think about what the SCV has achieved—the first people to build a lodge up here, the first people to have a ski lift, starting the ski patrol—we’re celebrating all those institutions and people.”

Modern Mt Buller

In the early skiing years, only a scattering of rudimentary accommodation existed. Things are very different now. Located on Taungurung country, today Mt Buller features a charming village which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and boasts 7,000 on-mountain beds, the most of any Victorian resort. 

Those very first adventurers who descended the mountain may well be taken aback at the charming village that Mt Buller, three hours from Melbourne, has evolved into. It now offers over 300 hectares of skiable slopes catering for skiers and boarders at all levels, and areas for toboggans. The pioneers would be especially thrilled to ride on any of the 19 lifts, the largest lift network in Victoria, though they may be a bit flummoxed by the notion of a Terrain Park and what that snow-making equipment is all about. 

The village offers ski-in ski-out accommodation, retail stores, free shuttles and over 30 bars and restaurants where tales of the day’s adventures are retold and perhaps reimagined. It’s a village large enough for everything you need and small enough to offer a warm welcome. For recovery days, a day spa and a cinema provide enticing options.

Capturing history

Exploring the National Alpine Museum, originally the Mt Buller Museum established in 1999 following the 50^th anniversary of the first rope tow, is an excellent way to uncover the area’s rich history. As the only alpine museum at the time, its collection quickly expanded to include material from other resorts, taking possession of artefacts covering ski and snow history across Australia. It was renamed in 1922 to 2022 recognise its national focus. 

The museum now boasts a collection of over 25,000 items, covering more than 150 years of alpine history, including the story of winter sports in Australia. There you’ll discover that in 1970, a day’s lift ticket would set you back the princely sum of $3.50, or if you were a real bargain hunter, you could have opted for the midweek special rate of $3 a day, which included instruction from the French Ski School. Alternatively, a scenic ride on the chairlift was just 50 cents for the return trip. Certainly beats having to walk up the hills yourself in 1924.

The centenary exhibition is on until 27 April 2025, and the museum is open by appointment during summer. If you can’t get there in person, take a sneaky peek at their website.

Beyond winter

Gone are the days when an alpine village just meant a place for a winter getaway. In spring and summer Mt Buller comes alive with meandering cycles along the Rail Trail from Mansfield, thrilling mountain bike trails at the Mt Buller Bike Park and the legendary 40-kilometre Australian Alpine Epic Trail or a swathe of scenic mountain walks from easy to advanced with views at every turn.