The modern Perisher Resort is an amalgam of 4 resorts, Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Blue Cow, all of which started independently and created their own ski lifts. Very few of these original lifts remain, standouts being the No. 1 T-bar in Perisher Valley and the Mt Perisher Chairlift.

The first ski lift in Perisher was at Smiggin Holes, before Smiggins became a separate resort, and was built by Johnny Abbottsmith in 1952. The lift, which Johnny called the Ski Haven Tow, was not in the present Smiggins Bowl but on the Kosciuszko Road, several hundred metres towards Perisher Valley from the turnoff into the present Smiggins Bowl.

The Ski Haven Tow lasted 7 years before Johnny sold it to YMCA (Canberra) Ski Club (now Brindabella Ski Club) at Guthega.

The following pages describe ski lifts that were built in what is now the Perisher Resort during the 1950s and early 1960s.

The modern Perisher Resort is an amalgam of 4 resorts, Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Blue Cow, all of which started independently and created their own ski lifts. Very few of these original lifts remain, standouts being the No. 1 T-bar in Perisher Valley and the Mt Perisher Chairlift.

The first ski lift in Perisher was at Smiggin Holes, before Smiggins became a separate resort, and was built by Johnny Abbottsmith in 1952. The lift, which Johnny called the Ski Haven Tow, was not in the present Smiggins Bowl but on the Kosciuszko Road, several hundred metres towards Perisher Valley from the turnoff into the present Smiggins Bowl.

The Ski Haven Tow lasted 7 years before Johnny sold it to YMCA (Canberra) Ski Club (now Brindabella Ski Club) at Guthega.

The following pages describe ski lifts that were built in what is now the Perisher Resort during the 1950s and early 1960s.

After he built his Ski Haven Tow at Smiggin Holes, Johnny Abbottsmith experimented with a portable ski tow that he tried in different places around Perisher Valley. This never became a permanent tow.

After he built his Ski Haven Tow at Smiggin Holes, Johnny Abbottsmith experimented with a portable ski tow that he tried in different places around Perisher Valley. This never became a permanent tow.

One of the early developers of Perisher Valley was Sverre Kaaten, whose Alpine Transport Company syndicate had begun the first motorised oversnow transport service in Perisher Valley in 1953.

In 1955 Sverre Kaaten’s syndicate asked Johnny Abbottsmith to build a rope tow and associated tow hut in North Perisher from Perisher Creek up to Rocky Knob. This was the first permanent ski lift in Perisher Valley and was known as the Big Tow and Tow Hut. The reason the tow was built in North Perisher, rather than in Front Valley, was that most of the ski club lodges in the developing resort were in North Perisher.

Sverre Kaaten’s original plan for the Big Tow and Tow Hut was that Johnny Abbottsmith and his family would run it but Johnny fell out with Sverre and never ran the Big Tow.

The Big Tow was replaced by the North Perisher T-bar in 1962 which was located a short distance to the north of the Big Tow. The North Perisher T-bar still exists.

One of the early developers of Perisher Valley was Sverre Kaaten, whose Alpine Transport Company syndicate had begun the first motorised oversnow transport service in Perisher Valley in 1953.

In 1955 Sverre Kaaten’s syndicate asked Johnny Abbottsmith to build a rope tow and associated tow hut in North Perisher from Perisher Creek up to Rocky Knob. This was the first permanent ski lift in Perisher Valley and was known as the Big Tow and Tow Hut. The reason the tow was built in North Perisher, rather than in Front Valley, was that most of the ski club lodges in the developing resort were in North Perisher.

Sverre Kaaten’s original plan for the Big Tow and Tow Hut was that Johnny Abbottsmith and his family would run it but Johnny fell out with Sverre and never ran the Big Tow.

The Big Tow was replaced by the North Perisher T-bar in 1962 which was located a short distance to the north of the Big Tow. The North Perisher T-bar still exists.

In 1956, Johnny Abbottsmith built the second rope tow in Perisher Valley. This was the Village Tow and was located in the Telemark basin, near the first Telemark  lodge. 

A year later, Telemark Ski Club complained that the Village Tow was contaminating its water supply and asked Johnny to move it. Johnny declined and sold the Village Tow to Ken Murray who was just beginning his involvement with Perisher Valley.

In 1958 Murray relocated the Village Tow to Front Valley but the tow experienced problems with rope twisting which were dangerous for tow riders and Murray dismantled the tow altogether and removed it.

In 1956, Johnny Abbottsmith built the second rope tow in Perisher Valley. This was the Village Tow and was located in the Telemark basin, near the first Telemark  lodge. 

A year later, Telemark Ski Club complained that the Village Tow was contaminating its water supply and asked Johnny to move it. Johnny declined and sold the Village Tow to Ken Murray who was just beginning his involvement with Perisher Valley.

In 1958 Murray relocated the Village Tow to Front Valley but the tow experienced problems with rope twisting which were dangerous for tow riders and Murray dismantled the tow altogether and removed it.

The next ski lift in the Perisher area was built at Guthega in 1957. All the present ski lifts at Guthega are built on the western and northern slopes of Blue Cow Mountain.

The first ski lift at Guthega, was not built there at all, it was built on the opposite side of Guthega Dam, on the East Ridge of Mt Tate. The lift was built by members of the SMA (Cooma) Ski Club (now Tate Ski Club), who had to transport all the building materials by raft across Guthega Dam to Mt Tate. Members of YMCA Ski Club of Canberra (now Brindabella Ski Club) helped in the construction.

Because the lift was built on Tate East Ridge, skiers had to walk or ski across the dam wall and walk around the northern edge of the dam to reach it, a journey of about 800 m. Tate East Ridge ski lift was initially 243 m long but it was extended twice and by 1963 was 800 m long over a vertical drop of 330 m. 

If you look closely at the photo, you will see that the take-off, at the bottom of the lift, was on a slope, not on flat ground. Thus, you had to start with your skis in herringbone position, not side by side. This made for a very interesting start to your up-hill journey.

The tow was struck by lightning in 1965 and was not rebuilt.

The next ski lift in the Perisher area was built at Guthega in 1957. All the present ski lifts at Guthega are built on the western and northern slopes of Blue Cow Mountain.

The first ski lift at Guthega, was not built there at all, it was built on the opposite side of Guthega Dam, on the East Ridge of Mt Tate. The lift was built by members of the SMA (Cooma) Ski Club (now Tate Ski Club), who had to transport all the building materials by raft across Guthega Dam to Mt Tate. Members of YMCA Ski Club of Canberra (now Brindabella Ski Club) helped in the construction.

Because the lift was built on Tate East Ridge, skiers had to walk or ski across the dam wall and walk around the northern edge of the dam to reach it, a journey of about 800 m. Tate East Ridge ski lift was initially 243 m long but it was extended twice and by 1963 was 800 m long over a vertical drop of 330 m. 

If you look closely at the photo, you will see that the take-off, at the bottom of the lift, was on a slope, not on flat ground. Thus, you had to start with your skis in herringbone position, not side by side. This made for a very interesting start to your up-hill journey.

The tow was struck by lightning in 1965 and was not rebuilt.

In 1958, Cooma Ski Club built a rope tow extending from just above Snow Revellers lodge to a point above their hut on Back Perisher.

This was the second lift in 1958, the first being Johnny Abbottsmith’s relocated Village Tow to Front Valley.

In 1958, Cooma Ski Club built a rope tow extending from just above Snow Revellers lodge to a point above their hut on Back Perisher.

This was the second lift in 1958, the first being Johnny Abbottsmith’s relocated Village Tow to Front Valley.

In 1958 Ken Murray had seen the first T-bar in NSW at Kiandra. It had been built by Ski Tows Pty Ltd, a company founded by John Gam and Geoff Hughes.

In 1959, Ken Murray asked Ski Tows Pty Ltd to build the first T-bar (No. 1) in Perisher Valley, which accompanied Murray’s first hotel, Sundeck.

In 1960, Ski Tows built the second T-bar (No. 2) in Front Valley, adjacent to No. 1. This accompanied the rebuild of the burnt-out Sundeck Hotel and the new Man from Snowy River Hotel.

The photo shows both T-bars in 1960, No.1 is on the right..

In 1958 Ken Murray had seen the first T-bar in NSW at Kiandra. It had been built by Ski Tows Pty Ltd, a company founded by John Gam and Geoff Hughes.

In 1959, Ken Murray asked Ski Tows Pty Ltd to build the first T-bar (No. 1) in Perisher Valley, which accompanied Murray’s first hotel, Sundeck.

In 1960, Ski Tows built the second T-bar (No. 2) in Front Valley, adjacent to No. 1. This accompanied the rebuild of the burnt-out Sundeck Hotel and the new Man from Snowy River Hotel.

The photo shows both T-bars in 1960, No.1 is on the right..

In 1960 Sverre Kaaten’s syndicate (Perisher Valley Enterprises) commenced the development of the Smiggins Bowl and built its first ski lift. The lift was a Poma lift constructed by Dulmison. Its location was most unusual as its outrun was onto the Kosciuszko Road. Although potentially dangerous, there was little traffic during the week.  Weekends were a different matter however, and the lift was relocated the following year into the Smiggins Bowl.

In 1960 Sverre Kaaten’s syndicate (Perisher Valley Enterprises) commenced the development of the Smiggins Bowl and built its first ski lift. The lift was a Poma lift constructed by Dulmison. Its location was most unusual as its outrun was onto the Kosciuszko Road. Although potentially dangerous, there was little traffic during the week.  Weekends were a different matter however, and the lift was relocated the following year into the Smiggins Bowl.

Ken Murray commissioned Müller-Transfield Pty Ltd to construct the Mt Perisher double chair which opened in 1961 and has recently celebrated 60 years of operation. The photo shows the mid-station which has subsequently been removed. The mid-station was installed just above the final slope to the bottom of the lift because Ken Murray thought the final drop would be too steep for most skiers.

Ken Murray commissioned Müller-Transfield Pty Ltd to construct the Mt Perisher double chair which opened in 1961 and has recently celebrated 60 years of operation. The photo shows the mid-station which has subsequently been removed. The mid-station was installed just above the final slope to the bottom of the lift because Ken Murray thought the final drop would be too steep for most skiers.

Johnny Abbottsmith sold his Ski Haven Tow to YMCA (Canberra) Ski Club (now Brindabella Ski Club; BSC) in 1960 and BSC converted it into a beginners tow at Guthega. It opened in 1961 and was replaced in 1975.

Johnny Abbottsmith sold his Ski Haven Tow to YMCA (Canberra) Ski Club (now Brindabella Ski Club; BSC) in 1960 and BSC converted it into a beginners tow at Guthega. It opened in 1961 and was replaced in 1975.

Prior to the 1964 season, Ken Murray had the No.2 T-bar dismantled and replaced by a Doppelmayr duplex (Bass-Flinders). This was the start of the Doppelmayr era and that company has built the majority of the Perisher lifts.

The dismantled No.2 T-bar was reconstructed as the Flat lift connecting Telemark to the North Perisher T-bar. The North Perisher T-bar had replaced the Big Tow at North Perisher.

The Bass-Flinders duplex lasted until 2003 when it was replaced by the Village-8 Express.

Prior to the 1964 season, Ken Murray had the No.2 T-bar dismantled and replaced by a Doppelmayr duplex (Bass-Flinders). This was the start of the Doppelmayr era and that company has built the majority of the Perisher lifts.

The dismantled No.2 T-bar was reconstructed as the Flat lift connecting Telemark to the North Perisher T-bar. The North Perisher T-bar had replaced the Big Tow at North Perisher.

The Bass-Flinders duplex lasted until 2003 when it was replaced by the Village-8 Express.

The Flat lift was the dismantled and reconstructed No. 2 T-bar from Front Valley and connected the Telemark basin with the North Perisher T-bar. It no longer exists.

The Flat lift was the dismantled and reconstructed No. 2 T-bar from Front Valley and connected the Telemark basin with the North Perisher T-bar. It no longer exists.