Previous find of the month

August 2011

Application to Build Mount Franklin Snowfields & Chalet 1935 to 1938

Two files recently uncovered are ‘169/-/2 & 4 - Parks Reserves & Public Places – Liaison – Lands Branch – Cotter River – Canberra Alpine Club – Block 2 & 4 (Mt Franklin Chalet) 1935-1957 parts 1 & 2’.  These files document the Canberra Alpine Clubs expeditions to locate a suitable site for a snowfield and chalet, application to lease Cotter River blocks 2 and 4 and renewal of their lease dating to 1985. 

In 1935 the Canberra Alpine Club started looking for a site between Mt Coree and Mt Bimberi based on information provided by "oldtimers" from the area.  This search even included an aerial survey of the region in June of 1935.  Newspapers from the time record this search and the early years of the Mt. Franklin Snowfields:

• Canberra Times 12/10/1934: Alpine Club - Formed in Canberra 
• Canberra Times 01/06/1935: Ski Slopes - Aerial Survey Next Week 
• Canberra Times 05/06/1935: Ski Ground - Ideal Site Found 
• Canberra Times 30/07/1935: Ski Grounds - Excellent Slopes Located  
• Canberra Times 25/03/1936: Alpine Club - Preparations for Winter  
• Canberra Times 21/05/1936: Alpine Sports - Mt. Franklin Attracts Wide Attention 
• Canberra Times 04/06/1936: First Snowfall - White Cloak on Mt. Franklin 
• Canberra Times 14/07/1936: Deep Snow - On Mt Franklin Range 
• Sydney Morning Herald 14/07/1936: Canberra Skiers - Good Snow Area Found 
• Canberra Times 15/09/1936: Snow Sports - F.C.T. Possibilities 
• Canberra Times 10/03/1937: Snowfields - Chalet at Mt. Franklin  

The following scans from the file ‘169/-/2 & 4 - Parks Reserves & Public Places – Liaison – Lands Branch – Cotter River – Canberra Alpine Club – Block 2 & 4 (Mt Franklin Chalet) 1935-1957 part 1' document the initial application for use of the site.  

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Links to external sites:

The historic Mount Franklin Chalet was destroyed in the 2003 bushfires and a new shelter built on the site in 2008.  Some of the following internet links include images of the chalet site through this period.

• ABC Stateline : Mount Franklin Chalet 04/04/2003
• ACTMAPi : Cotter Blocks 2 & 4 
• Australian Alps National Parks : Bimberi Nature Reserve 
• Bonzle.com : New Mount Franklin Chalet 2010 
• Canberra Alpine Club
• Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population & Communities : Mount Franklin Chalet 1994
• Wikipedia : Mount Franklin, ACT 

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