Following the Hotel Kosciusko fire in April 1951, nothing was done to the site until after the snow season when Chalet manager, George Petersen, asked Tony Sponar and Graham Chalker to repair, using material on site, several of the out-buildings of the old Hotel. The NSW Government Tourist Bureau (NSWGTB) used one of the repaired buildings as a post-office, bank and bar.  The building was a big open tin shed with a dirt floor and a bar at the rear. Around the interior walls were several little wooden-floored rooms, one of which served as the post-office/bank.

Following the Hotel Kosciusko fire in April 1951, nothing was done to the site until after the snow season when Chalet manager, George Petersen, asked Tony Sponar and Graham Chalker to repair, using material on site, several of the out-buildings of the old Hotel. The NSW Government Tourist Bureau (NSWGTB) used one of the repaired buildings as a post-office, bank and bar.  The building was a big open tin shed with a dirt floor and a bar at the rear. Around the interior walls were several little wooden-floored rooms, one of which served as the post-office/bank.

Despite the total loss of accommodation, the Hotel continued to function in a reduced manner with the post-office, ski hire, bar and laundry still operating. The photo shows the Hotel staff at Christmas 1951 L-R:  Unknown, unknown, Bobbie Collins, unknown, Lenore McManus, unknown, ‘Dickie’ Bird, Ernie Collins, Mamie (laundress, obscured), Bert McManus, Minnie McManus, unknown, Dale McManus, Graham Chalker. (McManus collection)

Despite the total loss of accommodation, the Hotel continued to function in a reduced manner with the post-office, ski hire, bar and laundry still operating. The photo shows the Hotel staff at Christmas 1951 L-R:  Unknown, unknown, Bobbie Collins, unknown, Lenore McManus, unknown, ‘Dickie’ Bird, Ernie Collins, Mamie (laundress, obscured), Bert McManus, Minnie McManus, unknown, Dale McManus, Graham Chalker. (McManus collection)

The bar was a very rough-and-ready affair but was very popular with the locals, many of whom were working on the Snowy Scheme. Nonetheless, it had the reputation as ‘one of the crudest drink shanties in the state’.

The bar was a very rough-and-ready affair but was very popular with the locals, many of whom were working on the Snowy Scheme. Nonetheless, it had the reputation as ‘one of the crudest drink shanties in the state’.

In 1954 NSWGTB reacted to the severe and deserved criticism of the bar and constructed a new one to the north of the staff quarters building. The new bar ceased operation when Tony Sponar took over the lease of the Hotel.

In 1954 NSWGTB reacted to the severe and deserved criticism of the bar and constructed a new one to the north of the staff quarters building. The new bar ceased operation when Tony Sponar took over the lease of the Hotel.

Many people continued to hire skis from the Hotel. The photo shows the queue waiting for skis in 1958. On the left is the old staff-quarters building, in the middle the sleeping barracks for the staff and on the right the garages, ski hire, post-office and bar.

Many people continued to hire skis from the Hotel. The photo shows the queue waiting for skis in 1958. On the left is the old staff-quarters building, in the middle the sleeping barracks for the staff and on the right the garages, ski hire, post-office and bar.

In 1959, Tony and Elizabeth (and daughter Louise) Sponar took over the lease of the Hotel Kosciusko and proceeded to convert it into useful accommodation. After a period of intensive work Tony and Elizabeth opened for business in July 1959. Tony wanted to call it the Hotel Kosciusko but was not permitted to do so as it was now a private enterprise.

In 1959, Tony and Elizabeth (and daughter Louise) Sponar took over the lease of the Hotel Kosciusko and proceeded to convert it into useful accommodation. After a period of intensive work Tony and Elizabeth opened for business in July 1959. Tony wanted to call it the Hotel Kosciusko but was not permitted to do so as it was now a private enterprise.

Initially the new inn had 35 beds on the second floor only but, within three years, three floors were in operation with 100 beds. Tony added the attractive balcony around the building which gave it a very European look. Unfortunately, the balcony weathered with time and became dangerous. Eventually it was removed.

Initially the new inn had 35 beds on the second floor only but, within three years, three floors were in operation with 100 beds. Tony added the attractive balcony around the building which gave it a very European look. Unfortunately, the balcony weathered with time and became dangerous. Eventually it was removed.