Skitube Alpine Railway
Transport in Snowy River

It is the largest snow resort operation in the Southern Hemisphere. It has the greatest terrain, the greatest number of lifts and the maximum trustworthy snow in Australia. Perisher Valley has its roots in the hasty pioneer days, when braziers impaired the surrounding valleys for summer pasture. The name Perisher is steeped in mystery, the myths surrounding its origin stem from the braziers attempting to rescue livestock trapped in the lofty country. The trampling of hundreds of cattle consuming rock salt that braziers had placed there, caused depressions that filled with water. These depressions were called the smiggin holes. A cafe was established to service skiers' en route to Charlotte Pass and Mt Kosciusko. The method of travel in those days consisted of horse drawn sleighs to Smiggin Holes, then arduous journeys over snow on skis to Mt Kosciusko. As the number of skiers increased, services, facilities and means of access were improved, and Perisher's first lodges were constructed. In the winter of 1953 the first over snow transport operated to Perisher Valley. It was greeted by the inhabitants with cheers and celebrations. Behind the opening of the first chairlift, Thar expansion and rope tows, the Perisher area thrived. Blue Cow was named after one of these crossbred cows, which would disappear after the defrost each year and would invariably be found on the mountain prior the after winter. In the 1970s, the National Parks and Wildlife Service carried out studies for the development of skiing at Mt Blue Cow, in response to the identified need for the expansion of suitable areas and facilities to enable the continued growth of alpine skiing within the Park. Guthega Resort was established in the 1950's along with Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes, when improved access to the mountains, created by the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric scheme, and the associated influx of European migrants with skiing experience, stimulated the growth of skiing in Fresh South Wales. In 1982 the Vehicle Park chairlift was installed, which overcame the need for visitors to walk some distance uphill to the upper end of the village to reach the bottom lift, thus making the resort more enchanting to day visitors. 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 Unite Management Unit ski slopes. Initially, Skitube alpine railway was designed as a winter based access system to improve entry to the Perisher Range ski fields. Until then, these areas were served by a single road of limited capacity that was and quiet often is, adversely affected by snow and ice during winter. The Skitube was deemed to be the maximum efficient and environmentally warranted alternative available. When it was decided to go ahead with the development of Mt Blue Cow in 1984, Skitube was the maximum practical option for providing access to the resort, and so Skitube was extended from Perisher to Mt Blue Cow. Since its begin of operations in 1987, Skitube has carried over 4 million passengers in comfort and safety. The Society seeks to accumulate and keep information and artifacts of historical and educational value expand knowledge of the Perisher Range’s history and thrive a display of historical items.