Guthega
Guthega resort had its beginnings in 1926 when the NSW Government built Pounds Creek Hut for ski touring at the junction of Spencers Creek and the Snowy River, several km upstream from the present Guthega Dam.
Nothing further happened until 1951 when the Norwegian Company, Selmer Engineering, began building Guthega Dam and Power Station, the first power station of the Snowy River Scheme. The Norwegians, whose first love was skiing, immediately formed a ski club and began competing in state and national competitions with great success. They built two big ski jumps at Guthega and in 1953 Tormod Lillejord set an Australian Jump record of 51.5 m.
Selmer Engineering finished the dam and power station in 1954 and went back to Norway taking almost all of their construction camp with them with the exception of three huts. These three huts became the start of the modern Guthega resort and were occupied in 1955 by SMA Cooma Ski Club (now Tate SC), YMCA Canberra Ski Club (now Brindabella SC) and Sydney University Ski Club.
In 1957, SMA Cooma SC built the Tate East Ridge Rope Tow on the other side of Guthega Dam. This rope tow was extended twice and became an excellent tow until it was destroyed by lightning in 1965. Also in 1957 Ski Tourers Association converted the old Pounds Creek Hut to Illawong Lodge.
YMCA Canberra SC discovered Walter Spanring, an Austrian ski instructor, in 1960 and he came to Guthega as instructor for the club. Also in 1960 YMCA Canberra SC bought Johnny Abbottsmith’s Ski Haven tow from Smiggin Holes to Guthega as a beginners tow.
Spanring built his own hut at the bottom of the beginners tow and leased both tows while continuing to instruct, beginning a 20 year involvement with the area. Spanring formed Guthega Developments with his wife Hannelore and brother-in-law and, in 1965, built the Blue Calf T-bar and the Guthega Hotel in 1966. In 1976 Guthega Developments built the Blue Cow T-bar, the Cowpastures tow and a rope tow to replace Johnny Abbottsmiths Ski Haven beginners tow.
In 1980 Spanring sold 75% of Guthega Developments to a syndicate of Alex Pongrass, Tibor Balog and Dr Alexander Morven Dan.
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The NSW Government builds Pounds Creek Hut
The New Government builds Pounds Creek Hut for ski touring at the junction of Spencer’s Creek and the Snowy River, several km upstream from the present Guthega Dam.
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Selmer Engineering completes Guthega Dam and Power Station
Selmer Engineering completes Guthega Dam and Power Station and removes its construction camp with the exception of three huts which become the beginning of the modern Guthega Resort.
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Walter Spanring instructs for YMCA Canberra Ski Club at Guthega
Walter Spanring 1930-2015 – Peter Southwell-Keely, Newsletter 15, p.8
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YMCA Canberra Ski Club relocates Johnny Abbottsmith’s Ski Haven Tow to Guthega
YMCA Canberra Ski Club relocates Johnny Abbottsmith’s Ski Haven Tow to Guthega for use as a beginners tow.
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Walter Spanring builds his own hut at the foot of the beginners tow
Walter Spanring builds his own hut at the foot of the beginners tow at Guthega, leases both ski tows and continues to instruct.
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David Whitford forms Davwhit Pty Ltd to build village on Mt Tate
David Whitford forms Davwhit Pty Ltd to build village on Mt Tate reached from Guthega by télépherique.
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Guthega Developments constructs the Blue Cow T-bar
Guthega Developments constructs the Blue Cow T-bar, the Cowpastures rope tow and a replacement for Johnny Abbottsmith’s Ski Haven tow.
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The new Guthega syndicate builds the Nordic Centre
The new Guthega syndicate builds the Nordic Centre, a new chairlift from the carpark to the Blue Calf saddle and replaces the old Blue Cow T-bar.
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Formation of Perisher Resort
Perisher Valley, Smiggins Holes, Blue Cow, Guthega and the Skitube combine to form Perisher Resort.
