Southern Tasmania Ski Association

The history of Mt Skiing at Mt Mawson is presented in two ways, as a brief history (below) and as an article called “Skiing Tasmania for 78 Years” which was previously published in the Tasmanian Tramp  and reproduced here with permission of the Author M. Jones.  This article is copyrighted an is not for reproduction without the Authors permission.
 

Mount Mawson Skiing Operations – Brief History

            Sources:  “Skiing Tasmania for 78 Years”, M. Jones, Tasmanian Tramp, N^o.33, 2000
                                STSA records
                                Alpine Club Log Book, 1935 to present day
                                Oral history. H.Siegrist, W.Hamilton, A.Davey

• 1922  first skiing at National Park – Lake Fenton

• 1926  Ski Club Southern Tasmania formed

• 1929  Hobart Walking Club formed

• 1923 building of Government huts at Lake Fenton

• mid 1930, Tasmanian Ski Council Formed, representatives from each club north and south

• 1940 Road put through to Lake Dobson and Government huts relocated to current position

• 1941 University Ski Club Hut built

• 1945 Alpine Club Southern Tas formed, and hut built

• 1948/9 ski trail, alpine to mawson established – the short cuts.

• 1948 Wellington Ski Club Hut Built

• 1948  downhill racing meet

• 1951 earliest record of STSA operations

• 1953 state championships at Mt mawson

• 1958 first tow constructed (Harold Cummins) and public shelter

• 1960 January, Tow facility burnt

• 1962 Jeep track formed and slope grooming by bulldozer to establish Mawson and University ski runs

• 1962  Oldina formed

• 1963 Original Mawson Tow Opened by Minister for Lands

• 1964 "Honary Ranger" system implemented where STSA tow operators acted as honary rangers for the PWS

• 1966  Sitzmark opened

• 1968 University Tow constructed

• 1968 Mawson Ski Club formed under name Royal Hobart Hospital Club

• 1969 Belt Issue Hut built

• 1973 Rodway Tow constructed

• 1981  Sitzmark sold to Parks

• 1982 Mawson tow extended downhill, new motor hut, and belt issue hut relocated.

• 1994 T.Butcher started operation in Sitzmark

• 1994  Tas Ski Council wound up

• 1995 Parks ceased the provision of a Mid Week Ski Patroller, Funding provided to the Kiosk and Ski hire operator for provision of a ski patroller

• 1997 PWS half funding of ski patrol via T.Butcher

• 1998 Snow board club joins STSA

• 1998 Sitzmark lodge structurally condemmed, PWS stop maintenace funding for the building 1998/99  All PWS funding support for a midweek patroller withdrawn

• 2000. Draft Mt.Field management plan out for public comment. Extensive submission by STSA.

• 2000 7-day a week operation ceases due to lack of mid week ski patroller availability. The previous patroller did not renew ASPA qualifications as no funding was to made available.

• 2001 STSA place Mt Mawson on internet – ski.com –images and report updated frequently

• 2001 PWS advise STSA that the gas and power systems within the building not operable – building condemned.

• 2001 Kiosk and ski hire operator ceases operation. Poor state of the Sitzmak building and lack of coherent support from Parks given as influencing factors.

• 2001 A prospective replacement operator for Sitzmark identified by STSA. State of the facilities precludes reinstatement of the services until a new facility is constructed

• 2001 PWS propose a new building without ski hire or kiosk facilities. No input by interested parties as to function of the building.

 © 2005/06 Southern Tasmanian Ski Association