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Mt Tate Village

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Mt Tate Village

In November 1961 David Whitford, a Sydney advertising man, together with Hugh Denison, Gordon Douglass, Walter Trotter and Whitmarks Pty Ltd founded a company called Davwhit Pty Ltd which proposed to build a village in the upper reaches of Guthega River valley between Mt Tate and Guthega Trig, just south of Consett Stephen Pass. 

The name of the company changed several times finishing as Australia’s Alpine Village Pty Ltd. The development was estimated to cost £400,000.

At the top of the map is the location of the projected Tate Village with its road and telepherique access.  In the top left hand corner is Mt Tate. The bottom right of the map shows the location of Guthega Village and associated ski lifts. Guthega Resort is named after Guthega River but actually lies on the western end of Mt Blue Cow.

Mt Tate Village

In November 1961 David Whitford, a Sydney advertising man, together with Hugh Denison, Gordon Douglass, Walter Trotter and Whitmarks Pty Ltd founded a company called Davwhit Pty Ltd which proposed to build a village in the upper reaches of Guthega River valley between Mt Tate and Guthega Trig, just south of Consett Stephen Pass. 

The name of the company changed several times finishing as Australia’s Alpine Village Pty Ltd. The development was estimated to cost £400,000.

At the top of the map is the location of the projected Tate Village with its road and telepherique access.  In the top left hand corner is Mt Tate. The bottom right of the map shows the location of Guthega Village and associated ski lifts. Guthega Resort is named after Guthega River but actually lies on the western end of Mt Blue Cow.

Tate Village Stage 1

The photo shows Guthega Dam wall and the valley formed by Mt Tate and Mt Guthega Trig. The ridge to the right (north) of dam the wall is the bottom of Guthega Trig. The ridge to the left is Tate East Ridge. In the distance, under the clouds, is Mt Tate.

In stage 1, from November 1963 to June 1964, the following were to be constructed at the northern end of the Guthega Dam wall (bottom of Guthega Trig): a garage and service station, company garage, company staff accommodation lodge and télépherique bottom station, restaurant and warehouse accommodation plus a road and télépherique (2.5 km) to the village. At the village site the following were to be constructed: 12 shops and pensions and two large pensions, four pensions or club premises for approved guest house proprietors or clubs and a restaurant, providing accommodation in all for 262 guests and 76 staff.

Also in the plan were, water and electricity reticulation, sewage works, garbage disposal plants, a T-bar (convertible to single chair for summer use to Guthega mountain), a Poma lift and nursery tow, a ski hire shop, ski school, doctors’ surgery and ski patrol.

Tate Village Stage 1

The photo shows Guthega Dam wall and the valley formed by Mt Tate and Mt Guthega Trig. The ridge to the right (north) of dam the wall is the bottom of Guthega Trig. The ridge to the left is Tate East Ridge. In the distance, under the clouds, is Mt Tate.

In stage 1, from November 1963 to June 1964, the following were to be constructed at the northern end of the Guthega Dam wall (bottom of Guthega Trig): a garage and service station, company garage, company staff accommodation lodge and télépherique bottom station, restaurant and warehouse accommodation plus a road and télépherique (2.5 km) to the village. At the village site the following were to be constructed: 12 shops and pensions and two large pensions, four pensions or club premises for approved guest house proprietors or clubs and a restaurant, providing accommodation in all for 262 guests and 76 staff.

Also in the plan were, water and electricity reticulation, sewage works, garbage disposal plants, a T-bar (convertible to single chair for summer use to Guthega mountain), a Poma lift and nursery tow, a ski hire shop, ski school, doctors’ surgery and ski patrol.

Guthega River valley

This is a view looking up Guthega River valley with the ridge of Guthega Trig on the right and Tate East Ridge on the left. The peak in the distance on the left is Mt Tate.

Guthega River valley

This is a view looking up Guthega River valley with the ridge of Guthega Trig on the right and Tate East Ridge on the left. The peak in the distance on the left is Mt Tate.

Tate Village stages 2-4

This photo is taken from the approximate location of Mt Tate Village looking down the valley of Guthega River towards Guthega Dam in the distance. Also in the distance, to the left of, and above, the dam, is Guthega resort. To the immediate right of the photographer is Mt Tate and to the left, Guthega Trig.

In stage 2, from November 1964 to June 1965 the following were to be constructed: T-bar lift to Mt Tate, Town Hall, ski hire building, 40 bed hotel, village staff quarters and staff flats, eight more club/pension buildings. By completion of this stage the village was to accommodate 504 guests and 134 permanent staff.

Stage 3, ending June 1966, envisaged the construction of a chapel, a 22 bed hotel, a company guest lodge, a mountain restaurant, and four club/pension buildings. By this time the village would accommodate 628 guests and 154 permanent staff.

During stage 4, ending June 1967, and possibly later, the lessee would construct such further ski lifts and tows as may be required.

Tate Village stages 2-4

This photo is taken from the approximate location of Mt Tate Village looking down the valley of Guthega River towards Guthega Dam in the distance. Also in the distance, to the left of, and above, the dam, is Guthega resort. To the immediate right of the photographer is Mt Tate and to the left, Guthega Trig.

In stage 2, from November 1964 to June 1965 the following were to be constructed: T-bar lift to Mt Tate, Town Hall, ski hire building, 40 bed hotel, village staff quarters and staff flats, eight more club/pension buildings. By completion of this stage the village was to accommodate 504 guests and 134 permanent staff.

Stage 3, ending June 1966, envisaged the construction of a chapel, a 22 bed hotel, a company guest lodge, a mountain restaurant, and four club/pension buildings. By this time the village would accommodate 628 guests and 154 permanent staff.

During stage 4, ending June 1967, and possibly later, the lessee would construct such further ski lifts and tows as may be required.

End of Mt Tate Village

Initially it was planned to deliver all materials and transport all personnel to the village by télépherique. The principals subsequently decided that they would have to provide an access road to the village to enable its construction and in May 1963 made application for the same. They also advised that they had the finance available for the village and had already spent £20,000.

In May 1962 Kosciusko State Park Trust (KSPT) approved the plan in principle and in May 1963 said it was prepared to enter into an agreement with the company for the development of the village. However, KSPT subsequently got cold feet and withdrew the approval in 1965.

This marked the end of the Mt Tate Village development and, after the SMA (Cooma) ski tow on Tate East Ridge burnt down in 1965, all development north of Guthega Dam wall ceased.

In future all development in the Guthega area would take place on the western end of Mt Blue Cow. The photo shows the view down the Blue Cow T-bar towards the Snowy River Valley and out onto the Main Range.

End of Mt Tate Village

Initially it was planned to deliver all materials and transport all personnel to the village by télépherique. The principals subsequently decided that they would have to provide an access road to the village to enable its construction and in May 1963 made application for the same. They also advised that they had the finance available for the village and had already spent £20,000.

In May 1962 Kosciusko State Park Trust (KSPT) approved the plan in principle and in May 1963 said it was prepared to enter into an agreement with the company for the development of the village. However, KSPT subsequently got cold feet and withdrew the approval in 1965.

This marked the end of the Mt Tate Village development and, after the SMA (Cooma) ski tow on Tate East Ridge burnt down in 1965, all development north of Guthega Dam wall ceased.

In future all development in the Guthega area would take place on the western end of Mt Blue Cow. The photo shows the view down the Blue Cow T-bar towards the Snowy River Valley and out onto the Main Range.