Welcome

There’s no need to feel like a stranger on the slopes. Join the Ski Club of Victoria and transform your favourite snow sport into an authentic social experience.

SCV is like a village within the village. A close-knit community that is welcoming and sincere. Somewhere you and your kids can enjoy spontaneous fun among an expanding circle of friends. SCV is an easy-going group with a passion for skiing and snowboarding, and sharing it all with friends and family.

Membership is rewarding on so many levels. On the slopes you’ll find yourself exhilarated by the winter outdoors, then captivated by the camaraderie of post-race get togethers. Off the slopes, become part of lively gatherings where laughter trumps polite conversation every time.

Membership also means value. It affords all the benefits you’d expect from such an iconic club – magnificent cuisine, comfortable accommodation, diverse events, generous discounts and a presence that only 90 years of history can create.

History

In the first decades of the 20th century the only skiing in Victoria was at Mt Buffalo. Getting there involved an arduous 24-hour journey from Melbourne.

In 1924, an intrepid group calling themselves the Ski Club of Victoria decided to bring the adventure of skiing much closer to home.

At their first meeting, great enthusiasm was shown over a picture of snow-capped Mt Buller. There was even more excitement when, on Sunday 8 June 1924, an expeditionary party from the club set out for the summit.

The SCV’s first accommodation was Lovick’s Hut, a rough timber and corrugated iron cattlemen’s shack. As skiing became more popular, in 1929 a small chalet was built at Horse Hill.

SCV member, Major Ivor Whittaker, known as ‘Ike’ had been a keen skier at Mt Buller but lost his life on active service in the Middle East during World WarTwo. His will made provision for the SCV to build a lodge at Mt Buller for the benefit of Victorian skiing.

Ivor’s parents and trustees of his estate, Mr and Mrs Robert C Whittaker honoured their son’s wishes and in May 1944, provided the SCV with £500 to build a skier’s retreat – the Ivor Whittaker Memorial Lodge, known affectionately as the Whitt. Today, the Whitt is home to the SCV and effectively, the home of skiing on Mt Buller.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Mt Buller is approximately three hours from Melbourne by car, via Mansfield. It is the closest major ski resort to an international airport, and is the home to the Ski Club of Victoria.

Located 250 kms North East of Melbourne, Mt Buller, with an altitude of 1804 metres, is in the heart of some of Victoria’s most spectacular alpine and sub-alpine terrain and is a comfortable 3 hour, sealed road drive through magnificent countryside no matter what route you take. Snow season parking is controlled by attendants and chains must be carried. There is entry gate at the base of the mountain where an Alpine Parks fee is payable. A regular taxi service operates from the car parks to your accommodation.

There are quite a few ways you can get to Mansfield from Melbourne, including via Whittlesea and Yea from Plenty Rd; along the Hume Hwy to Tallarook and then to Yea; along the Hume Hwy to the Benalla/Mansfield turnoff; or along the Melba Hwy through Yarra Glen to Yea and then on to Mansfield.

A gate entry fee is levied on winter visitors to the resort in order to pay for resort infrastructure, the upkeep of the Village, carparking, clearing snow from the roads and the free Village shuttle bus.

Yes, by law, chains must be carried at designated times in alpine areas. They can be hired in Mansfield, Merrijig and Mirimbah (at the base of the mountain just before you come through the resort’s entry gate). You’ll rarely need to use your chains but it is a good idea to ask how to fit them. Although fitting chains is quick and easy, Mt Buller also has qualified chain fitters on site who, are located at Chainbay 1 to assist guests with their chains.

It is impossible for us to predict exactly how much snow will be on the ground on a specific day, but history shows the peak snow pack is usually at the end of July and early August.

Mt Buller’s lift system can carry up to 40,000 skiers per hour, which is eight times the number of workers in the Rialto Towers. The resort can handle up to 10,000 skiers or boarders on any given day.

Last year, Mt Buller had more than 500,000 visitor days.

It’s easy to book in for a lesson at the Ski & Snowboard School where you can get some great advice from the team on the right level and lesson for you. You can also pre-purchase your lesson with your lift ticket – just ask at any ticket counter.

Mt Buller has a FREE 2 hour Discover lesson included with a 1 Day liftpass which is ideal for beginner skiers and boarders. Find out more here.

There are also many options for group lessons and private tuition – chat to an instructor and find the lesson for you!

The Ski & Snowboard School is located halfway up Bourke Street on the left side of the Blue Bullet Chairlift.
Once you have purchased a lift ticket or collected hire equipment, first timers or those who are not yet confident to ride the lift can take the free Village shuttle (red route) to the Ski & Snowboard School. The shuttle picks up every few minutes and there is a bus stop located in the Village, next to Cow Camp, outside the Kooroora. You can also follow the signs at the base of the Blue Bullet Chairlift and walk through the Magic Forest, entering through the Magic Forest entrance.

Bluff View is located opposite the Blue Bullet Chairlift. Take the free Village shuttle (blue route) to the Arlberg Hotel and walk across Bourke Street to the meeting place.

Mt Buller has more than 7000 on-mountain beds – more than any other Victorian resort. With options from simple hostel accommodation right through to luxury hotel suites there is something for everyone. Step out your front door and onto the slopes without wasting a moment!

When running at full capacity Mt Buller’s snowmaking system can make enough snow to fill two 44 gallon drums every second. That’s 120 drums per minute and 7200 drums per hour. The snowmaking system covers an area 36 times larger than the MCG arena.

Our snowmaking system can pump 220 litres of water per second, which creates 440 litres of snow. In the right conditions and temperatures the Mount Buller system can convert 720,000 litres of water to snow every hour.

No. Our snowmaking system is totally natural, using air and water to make snow. On occasion we add a nucleating agent called Snowmax to the water which helps the crystals form but it is a naturally occurring enzyme. All the water used in snowmaking is returned to the environment when the snow melts at the end of the season. Back in 2005, Mt Buller replaced its diesel compressors with electric models, which are more efficient, cleaner and quieter.

Absolutely. Research conducted by the CSIRO and contained in the State Government’s 20/20 strategy shows that Australia’s higher altitude ski resorts such as Mt Buller will still be operating in 20 years. There may be an increasing reliance on manmade show in the coming years but Mt Buller has invested heavily in its snowmaking system to ensure we will still be able to continue to produce snow if natural falls decline.

Absolutely not. Mt Buller has a wide mix of terrain to appeal to all skiers and boarders, from beginners to experts. Our terrain mix is 25% advanced, 45 % intermediate and beginner 30% with everything from groomed runs to steeps, moguls and off-piste thrills.

Yes. The cost of a lift ticket does not only go towards lift operations but also snowmaking and grooming which are used in the terrain park, Ski Patrol, insurance and the purchase of rails and park features.

2023 Board of Directors

Christian Munn – President

James Soutter – Treasurer

Simon Riordan – Secretary

Renee Straub – Vice President

Sonia Evans – Director

Matt Hill – Director

Thomas Abbott – Director

Chris Byrne – Director

Stephanie Swan – Director

Work With Us

SCV is always on the lookout for motivated, energetic and team oriented people to join us. You know who you are; you’ve got great communication skills and find it easy to connect with other members and guests. We offer our staff:

  • Above award salary and wages
  • On-mountain accommodation
  • Central location adjacent to main ski area
  • A ‘winter season’ contract for June-Sept each year
  • Chance for year-round employment

All applicants must demonstrate the right to work in Australia. If this sounds like you, send us your work resume today.

For more information contact hr@skivictoria.com.au or call 03 5777 6024.