This is what the Chalet, Charlotte Pass, looked like before the fire of 1938.

This is what the Chalet, Charlotte Pass, looked like before the fire of 1938.

Most of the residents in the Chalet at the time of the fire were members of the Kosciusko Alpine Club (KAC) . The photo shows the KAC members at their film night four hours before the fire.

Most of the residents in the Chalet at the time of the fire were members of the Kosciusko Alpine Club (KAC) . The photo shows the KAC members at their film night four hours before the fire.

At about 1.15 am on 8 August, 1938 a fire started in the ceiling of the boiler room and may have been due to a fault in electrical wiring. There is some doubt about this however as the generator had been turned off at 11.30 pm. The fire spread quickly to the men’s shower room, directly above the boiler room, quickly consuming the contents of all the lockers. The men’s dormitories were next but were easily evacuated.

At about 1.15 am on 8 August, 1938 a fire started in the ceiling of the boiler room and may have been due to a fault in electrical wiring. There is some doubt about this however as the generator had been turned off at 11.30 pm. The fire spread quickly to the men’s shower room, directly above the boiler room, quickly consuming the contents of all the lockers. The men’s dormitories were next but were easily evacuated.

The whole Chalet was in darkness as the generator was off, so finding one’s clothing and other gear must have posed special problems. The flames spread rapidly to the staff quarters but more slowly to the women’s dormitory. The lounges and ski room were last to burn, enabling many skis to be saved.

No lives were lost but many of the men lost most of their luggage. Conditions  for the refugees huddled together in the snow were trying to say the least. The temperature was -4ºC, the wind from the south-east at 15-40km/h and snow was falling heavily.  

The survivors made their way to the wood shed, tractor shed, garage, feed shed or the new ‘ski hoist’ engine shed where they spent an uncomfortable night. Contrary to newspaper reports, the cow shed was not used.

By amazing coincidence, Sydney Sun newspaper photographer, Earl McNeil was in residence, and took some wonderful shots of the burning building.

The whole Chalet was in darkness as the generator was off, so finding one’s clothing and other gear must have posed special problems. The flames spread rapidly to the staff quarters but more slowly to the women’s dormitory. The lounges and ski room were last to burn, enabling many skis to be saved.

No lives were lost but many of the men lost most of their luggage. Conditions  for the refugees huddled together in the snow were trying to say the least. The temperature was -4ºC, the wind from the south-east at 15-40km/h and snow was falling heavily.  

The survivors made their way to the wood shed, tractor shed, garage, feed shed or the new ‘ski hoist’ engine shed where they spent an uncomfortable night. Contrary to newspaper reports, the cow shed was not used.

By amazing coincidence, Sydney Sun newspaper photographer, Earl McNeil was in residence, and took some wonderful shots of the burning building.

Aside from a few chimneys, the part of the Chalet which survived was the store shed, immediately behind the staff quarters. The store shed escaped destruction by being built of corrugated iron, whereas the rest of the Chalet was mostly wood. The store shed is second from the right in the photo. On the extreme right of the photo is the engine shed for the ‘ski hoist’ and one can see the A-frame stanchions of the ‘ski hoist’ running up the hill. Although ready to operate in 1938, the loss of the Chalet meant that it did not really start until 1939.

Aside from a few chimneys, the part of the Chalet which survived was the store shed, immediately behind the staff quarters. The store shed escaped destruction by being built of corrugated iron, whereas the rest of the Chalet was mostly wood. The store shed is second from the right in the photo. On the extreme right of the photo is the engine shed for the ‘ski hoist’ and one can see the A-frame stanchions of the ‘ski hoist’ running up the hill. Although ready to operate in 1938, the loss of the Chalet meant that it did not really start until 1939.

The following day, using whatever clothes they could scrape together, the survivors (no lives were lost in the fire) had to walk the 18 km back to the Hotel Kosciusko in a driving snowstorm which had produced 40 cm of new snow. On the way they were able to get some breakfast at Betts Camp. The survivors left in three parties so as to not overtax breakfast facilities at Betts Camp.

Chalet staff were much worse off than the guests as their clothing was not at all suited to the conditions. Most of them were only able to put on their ordinary staff uniforms and shoes. If skiing back to the Hotel was difficult for the guests, one can only imagine how difficult it would have been for the staff to walk the 18 km in normal shoes.

The following day, using whatever clothes they could scrape together, the survivors (no lives were lost in the fire) had to walk the 18 km back to the Hotel Kosciusko in a driving snowstorm which had produced 40 cm of new snow. On the way they were able to get some breakfast at Betts Camp. The survivors left in three parties so as to not overtax breakfast facilities at Betts Camp.

Chalet staff were much worse off than the guests as their clothing was not at all suited to the conditions. Most of them were only able to put on their ordinary staff uniforms and shoes. If skiing back to the Hotel was difficult for the guests, one can only imagine how difficult it would have been for the staff to walk the 18 km in normal shoes.

This photo shows the ‘refugees’ from the Chalet fire after their arrival at the Hotel and having had a good dinner.

This photo shows the ‘refugees’ from the Chalet fire after their arrival at the Hotel and having had a good dinner.

After the fire, the NSW government decided immediately to rebuild the Chalet and placed Chalet manager, George Day, in charge of construction. The first thing that Day built was a large corrugated iron shed to house the 120 workers involved in construction. This shed can be seen at the extreme right of the photo and partly obscured by the new Chalet. This shed is still there and now houses large machinery.

After the fire, the NSW government decided immediately to rebuild the Chalet and placed Chalet manager, George Day, in charge of construction. The first thing that Day built was a large corrugated iron shed to house the 120 workers involved in construction. This shed can be seen at the extreme right of the photo and partly obscured by the new Chalet. This shed is still there and now houses large machinery.

This photo shows the new Chalet ready for the 1939 season. 

This photo shows the new Chalet ready for the 1939 season. 

Although subsequently modified from time to time, the Chalet is still easily recognisable as derived from the 1939 structure.

Although subsequently modified from time to time, the Chalet is still easily recognisable as derived from the 1939 structure.