Guthega, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GuthegaNew South Wales |
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The Main Range from Guthega Peak, July 2011
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 Guthega
Location in New South Wales
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| Postcode(s) | 2624 |
| Elevation | 1,640 m (5,381 ft) |
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| LGA(s) | Snowy Monaro Regional Council |
| State electorate(s) | Monaro |
| Federal Division(s) | Eden-Monaro |
Guthega is a small mountain village in the Australian Alps. It is home to a special dam that makes electricity using water power, called hydroelectricity. You can find Guthega inside the beautiful Kosciuszko National Park. It sits high up on the Snowy River, near Blue Cow Mountain in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia.
The village has places to stay, like private lodges and hotels. There are also restaurants and bars. People come here for snow sports and other fun outdoor activities. Guthega is also where the Guthega Power Station is located. This power station is a key part of the huge Snowy Mountains Scheme, which is now managed by Snowy Hydro.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Early People and Explorers
For thousands of years, the Ngarigo Aboriginal people lived in the areas around Guthega. They moved between Canberra, the Monaro plains, and the Snowy Mountains. When European settlers arrived, new diseases and changes to their way of life sadly forced the Ngarigo people to leave their traditional lands. By 1850, many had moved to live with Europeans near Cooma.
In 1927, some brave explorers made the first winter trip across the Main Range. These explorers were Herbert Schlink, Eric Fischer, William Gordon, John Laidley, and W Hughes. They were part of the Ski Club of Australia and traveled from Kiandra to Kosciusko.
Building the Power Station
In 1949, Guthega was chosen as a site for a dam and power station. This was part of the big Snowy Mountains Scheme. Work on the roads for the Guthega Power Station began in 1951. The dam itself started being built in 1952.
A group from Norway was hired to build the power station. Because of this, Guthega became known as "Little Norway." It had the largest number of Norwegians living outside Norway at that time! The power station started making electricity in 1955.
From Power to Play: Skiing Begins
People started skiing for fun in Guthega in the late 1950s. The first rope tow for downhill skiing was put up in 1957. It was on Mount Tate's East Ridge. In 1960, the YMCA Ski Club (now Brindabella Ski Club) built two huts and another rope tow. They also started offering ski lessons and places to stay.
In 1965, the SMA Tow hut burned down. But in the same year, the first T-bar lift was built on the west slopes of Mount Blue Calf. In 1966, Walter Spanring and his wife Hannelore built the Guthega Hotel. They were very important in developing Guthega's ski areas.
More ski facilities were added in 1975 on the West Face of Mount Blue Calf. By 1983, new investors helped build car parks, a chairlift, and a ski center. Guthega's new ski facilities opened in 1983.
In 1991, a company called Alpine Australia Group bought Guthega. This company also ran the Blue Cow Resort. So, in 1992, Guthega and Blue Cow started working together as "Blue Cow-Guthega." This meant you could get to Guthega by using the Skitube alpine railway and the ski slopes from Blue Cow. Later, the Blue Cow-Guthega and Perisher-Smiggins areas joined to become the big Perisher Blue complex.
Fun in the Mountains Today
Guthega's ski runs are now part of the Perisher Blue ski resort maps. Sometimes, a chair lift and two T-bar lifts operate from Guthega to connect with Perisher Blue. This depends on how many people are visiting.
Besides downhill skiing, Guthega is a great place for other snow activities. People come here for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. It's also a starting point for ice climbers heading to Blue Lake. In the summer, Guthega is a popular spot for sightseeing. People also enjoy other outdoor fun in the surrounding Kosciuszko National Park.
Nature's Beauty
Guthega is surrounded by amazing natural features. These include:
Images for kids
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Looking to Guthega from Mount Tate.
