Mt Buffalo

From WikiSki

Overview 

Buffalo was a small resort pearched up on a plateau. Its low elevation meant snow was unreliable, but it was a great beginners resort and its non-threatening environment offered a great place to start. There still is also some very good xc skiing on the plateau.

Contents 1 Location 2 Pros 3 Cons 4 Contacts 5 Planning 5.1 Getting There 5.2 Accommodation 5.2.1 On Mountain 5.2.2 Off Mountain 5.3 Lift Tickets 5.4 Ski School 5.5 Equipment Hire 6 Resort Facilities 6.1 Getting Around 6.2 Parking 6.3 Activities 6.4 Dining 6.5 Bars & Entertainment 7 Ride Guide 7.1 Beginner Areas 7.2 Groomed Runs 7.3 Off Piste 7.4 Out of Bounds 7.5 Cross Country 7.6 Parks & Pipes 7.7 Bumps 7.8 Powder Zones 7.9 Sheltered Runs 7.10 Snowplay 8 Other 8.1 Weather 8.2 Geography 8.3 History 9 Resources 9.1 Maps

Location

About 3-4 hours from Melbourne and about 9 from Sydney.

• View Location Map
  
• ski.com.au Driving Map (PDF 327KB)

Pros

• Non threatening
• Great beginners areas
• Friendly atmosphere

Cons

• No lifts
• No accommodation
• Very limited facilities
• Low altitude means marginal cover
• Very small
• Limited advanced skiing

Contacts

Phone: Parks Victoria 13 1963

Fax: PLEASE EDIT

Postal:

WWW.PARKWEB.VIC.GOV.AU/MTBUFFALO

Planning

Getting There

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Accommodation

The Lodge near the ski lifts burnt down in the December 2006 fires. The Chalet closed in January 2007. The accommodation was very old fashioned, thus it did not appeal to enough tourists. No one could justify modernising it, as the owners (state government) would only give short leases to operators.

On Mountain

Summer Camping is available 1st September 2008 through to Saturday 26 April 2009. Walk or ski-in winter camping is available at Lake Catani campground or remote camping at Mount McLeod, bookings are essential and can be made online by visiting www.parkstay.vic.gov.au or by telephoning Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or the Mount Buffalo Entrance Station on (03) 5756 2328.

Off Mountain

Bright, Porepunkah and Myrtleford

Lift Tickets

The lifts closed for the final time in 2006.

Ski School

Nope.

Equipment Hire

Cross coutry skis may be hired in Bright, Porepunkah and Myrtleford

Resort Facilities

Getting Around

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Parking

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Activities

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EDIT ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Dining

None anymore.

Bars & Entertainment

None anymore.

Ride Guide

Beginner Areas

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Groomed Runs

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Off Piste

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Out of Bounds

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Cross Country

Click here for the link to the WikiSki page on XC skiing at Buffalo.

Parks & Pipes

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Bumps

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Powder Zones

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Sheltered Runs

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Snowplay

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Other

Weather

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Geography

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History

Buffalo was Victoria's first ski resort and the site of Australia's first ski tow. The huge, sprawling wooden Buffalo Chalet was built in 1910 and is Australia's oldest and biggest ski lodge. For it's last 50 years, the place slowly sank into decline with it's outdated facilities and decor putting off most tourists. Later a number of private operators tried to make a go of the place, but the inherent problems meant that it was impossible to make a profit. How long the almost derelict old building lasts before succumbing to wind or fire is anyone's guess, but hopefully it will at least last until it's centenary.

The Buffalo Chalet and ski lifts closed in late 2006 for a few reasons. But the main one was:

• The Chalet was 98 years old and run down. A lick of paint wouldn't do the trick, the whole place had to be bought out of the 1950's and the standard of accommodation raised to the level people expect these days. That meant spending squillions on installing better heating, ensuite bathrooms, soundproofing, replumbing, totally refurnishing, rebuilding lounge areas, ripping out the kitchens and starting again, etc.

This is the biggest building in the Australian snow country, even bigger than the pub at Thredbo. So it would take several decades to repay any investment and start to make a profit. But the building is owned by the state government and tragically they would only give a fairly short lease. Q.E.D., no-one was prepared to invest the vast amount needed to make the place viable because they were in danger of losing that investment when the short lease expired.

Other reasons the Chalet closed were:

• The loss of the burnt Buffalo (aka Tatra) Lodge meant that there was a loss of critical mass, for both accommodation and the ski lifts. Staff were often transferred between the two according to demand. Without either the Chalet or the Lodge, there was no one to use the ski lifts.

• Lack of mains electricity. (This is the same problem that Ben Lomond and Mt Mawson ski resorts are facing, although it does not seem to be inhibiting Baw Baw too much.)

• It was the only place in the Victorian High Country with a toll booth on the road in summer. This madness meant that casual punters who wanted to visit the mountains preferred nearby places with better facilities that they could visit at no cost like Falls Creek, Hotham and Dinner Plain.

So in it's 100th year, the Buffalo Chalet is slowly crumbling and it will soon be beyond saving as it's structural condition further declines. A sad end to Australia's oldest ski lodge.

However, the Chalet is NOT beyond restoration yet. But it would probably require a very long lease or a casino license for any company to be prepared to invest the huge amount required to save the place from dereliction and collapse.

Resources

• ski.com.au/resorts
• The Parks Vic website for the Buffalo Plateau.
• Wiki List of Aussie Resorts

Maps

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