Mt Buffalo Chalet to close?
I picked up this interesting piece of news from my former home territory, courtesy Australian Associated Press, regarding the future of Mount Buffalo Chalet:
Parks Victoria, the owner of the chalet, today said it had been notified by the lease holder, Burbank, of its intention to cease operations. But Burbank spokeswoman Sue McDermott said the company was hoping to renegotiate the terms of its lease and to merely close temporarily for renovations.
"We can’t rely on generating revenue just from the ski season," she said. "We have to rely on revenue all year round. The chalet was built in 1910 and there's a lot of work needing to be done. We're hoping we can work with Parks Victoria to do that."
The chalet is perched near the top of Mt Buffalo and is on the doorstep of one of Victoria's most popular ski resorts. According to Heritage Victoria, Mt Buffalo Chalet is of architectural, historical and social significance to Victoria.
A spokesman said any renovations or alterations would require a permit under the Heritage Act. … Poor snowfalls this winter saw ski operations end in mid-August, more than a month before the official end of the ski season.
"We acknowledge that it's been a difficult trading period, compounded by a poor snow season," regional manager for Parks Victoria, Chris Rose, said in a statement.
"We will shortly discuss the future of this tourist icon with the lessees and plan to involve local government representatives and the community in future examination of options."
I'm a 41-year-old father of four working as a newspaper editor at Mount Gambier in South Australia.
November 2nd, 2006 at 2:41 pm
We used to go to the Chalet regularly until it changed hands about 2-3 years ago when there was an undefinable but palpable alteration in the atmosphere of the place. We didn’t feel welcome and decided not to return until things improved. Then we heard it was probably going into receivership. Now it sounds as though it will close. It will be a terrible loss unless someone with passion can revive it. There are plenty of people like us who used to go and would again if it was well run.
November 12th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
A “save the chalet” protest rally has been organised for this Saturday (Nov 18) in Bright. I’m not sure who’s behind it but somehow I think it’s connected to the interests of the lessees, Birbank (property developers).
It seems to me that if Birbank are going to close the chalet while they’ve still got 8 years to run on their lease (which they only entered about 2 years ago, or less) then they might be in breach of their lease with the Government.
Maybe the protesters should vent their feelings about the job losses and potential effects on the local tourist trade towards those causing it - i.e. the lessee who has decided to close down unless the Governmentr extends the lease and spends big bucks on an upgrade.
Surely Birbank were aware of the chalets’s (poor) financial history when they took it on.
November 26th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
The rally held in Bright on Nov 18 to “save the chalet” turned into a political farce with politicians (state & federal) trading insults.
Surprisingly most people around here seem to think it’s the State government who have decided to close it down, but they’re wrong.
It’s clearly orchestrated by the lessee Burbank Property Group who, I believe, want to turn Mt Buffalo into a smaller version of Mt Hotham with overpriced apartments that no one really needs.
I hope the State government doesn’t cave in to Burbank’s demands. No one should be given a 50 year lease of such an historic building. That’s like giving them full ownership.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
I agree with MaryH’s comment about the change in atmosphere at the Chalet. I first went to the Chalet in 1997 and instantly fell in love with the place, going several times with an increasing number of friends until 2001. The lessees at the time I started going really made one feel part of a Mt Buffalo Chalet family, with the regular newsletter keeping one involved in the life of the Chalet. However, it changed when the new lessees took over and I haven’t been back since, although I still think of it fondly. I know the lessees are running a commercial venture but their handle on it was ruining the unique quality of the Chalet and making it just like any other commercial hotel.
December 18th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
It may not have to “close” after all. The way the fires are going the old chalet mightn’t be with us for much longer.
A lot of people around here believe that DSE & Parks Vic wouldn’t mind if it burned down.
I’d say the lessees wouldn’t be too perturbed either.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
The Mt. Buffalo Chalet must be reopened. It is the perfect example of combining ecominic growth with enviroment sustanablity. This area belongs to the people of Victoria and there fore needs to be maintained for our future generations. What about the 30 or more jobs that have been directly lost as a result of the closure of the Chalet? Burbank may not be everyones ideal developers but at least they are prepare to invest money into a vast project, and also where possible use local suppliers. We need action now as the building and our heart are breaking!
September 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Our family have been skiing in Victoria since about 1963, in fact my Mum used to give ice skating demosnstrations on the lake up there back in (around)1938. I’ve visited the park on a number of occassions: seems to me that there has never been anyone take on the resort who had both the flair, hospitality skills and money to make it work. And you do need at least those three basics. I hope someone can put that all together with a love of the australian alpine environment and the sports associated. Good luck Mt Buffalo!
September 25th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Bruce, part of the problem with Buffalo I think is climate change. The winters are unreliable there now and the lake hardly ever freezes.