How skiing at Tasmania's oldest known ski club looked different 100 years ago

The Ski Club of Tasmania is celebrating a remarkable milestone: its 100th anniversary. Believed to be Tasmania's oldest ski club and among the first established in Australia, the club holds a special place in the memories of its members, evoking recollections of challenging yet rewarding trips to the snow.

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The thrill of a downhill run after the effort of clambering to the top of a slope

Penny and Michael Wadsley, both active members, shared their experiences. Ms. Wadsley recalled the "thrill of a downhill run after the effort of clambering to the top of a slope" and the necessity of carrying gear on skis while pulling sleds laden with food supplies through deep snow. This arduous journey highlights the dedication required by early skiers.

The club's historic Twilight Tarn Hut, located in Mount Field National Park, is also set to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Volunteers and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service are undertaking restoration efforts on the hut and cataloging its memorabilia. This initiative ensures that the heritage of the club and its early days are preserved for future generations.

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Carrying gear on skis … while Dad pulled a sled with all our food supplies when the snow was too deep to travel by car.

Skiing a century ago was a vastly different experience. Ms. Wadsley noted the necessity of being "very fit and enthusiastic" due to the lack of roads, requiring a 16-kilometer uphill walk to the hut carrying all necessary equipment. The skis themselves were rudimentary, crafted from local Tasmanian timbers, and were notably heavy with simple wooden soles. These early practices stand in stark contrast to the modern skiing experience.

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You had to be very fit and enthusiastic because there weren't roads. You got to the national park, you had to walk 16 kilometres uphill, carrying whatever it was you wanted for your skiing holiday.

For many members, like Charlotte Sainsbury, whose father was a founding member and past president, the centenary is deeply personal. She remembers learning to ski and the camaraderie among club members. Sainsbury also cherishes an original wind-up gramophone that once provided music for ice skating on Twilight Tarn, where members would "waltz to The Skaters Waltz." The club's memorabilia, including knitted mittens and original ski poles, offers a tangible link to its rich history.

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They made skis from all the different Tasmanian timbers. They were very heavy and the soles were just the simple wood.