At Hotham there are people who have been remembered in all sorts of ways from ski run names to localities or lookouts, huts and monuments too. Over the course of the season we’ve looked at some of the history on the slopes and the road here and have once again delved into Hotham’s past to answer some of the burning questions you might have. Included in today’s history lesson are some of the names and legacies that live on within the village through peaks, areas of the resort and even accommodation.
Davenport Drive/Davenport Access
Clyde Davenport was a prominent Ski Club of Victoria member who died near Mt Little Higginbotham in 1939. The Davenport area is home to most of Hotham’s lodges and was initially set aside for development following the creation of the Mt Hotham Committee of Management in 1962.
Gravbot Ski Club
This lodge was named after the Gravbrot Rover Crew and in honour of Eric Johnson Gravbrot. Born in Norway, Gravbrot was a pioneer of transport at Hotham running a sled service from the snowline on the Bon Accord Spur to Hotham Heights Chalet. His courage and ability on skis also saw him help many a stranded skier and traveller during poor weather.
Lawlers Apartments/Lawlers Court
The Lawler family were long-time cattleman on Hotham and Feathertop with three generations grazing the plains for nearly a century. One of several huts built by the Lawlers was between the saddle of Mt Hotham and Mt Higginbotham. The family’s name remains part of the Hotham landscape with Lawlers Apartments and Lawlers Court situated on the land they once utilised.
Mt Higginbotham/ Mt Little Higginbotham
The main divide east of Mt Hotham, these two peaks honour George Higginbotham who was Chief Justice of Victoria from 1886 to 1892. A politician before entering the courts, Higginbotham was a champion for women's rights from the beginning of his parliamentary career.
Mt Hotham
The mountain is named after Charles Hotham who was Governor of Victoria from 1854 to 1855. Ferdinand Von Mueller is said to have named Mt Hotham and other surrounding peaks however much of his work was discredited when the first official maps of Victoria were produced in 1872.
Mt Loch
Named after Henry Loch who visited the area in 1885. Loch was a Scottish soldier and Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man before he arrived in Australia. He was governor of Victoria from 1884-1888 and later became the High Commissioner for Southern Africa.
The Drift Chalet
The legacy of Lindsay Salmon lives on through The Drift Chalet. A pioneer of ski development at Hotham, Salmon was dubbed the ‘King of Hotham’. He shared his passion for skiing with many and in 1946 established the first privately owned enterprise on the mountain, the Hotham Ski School. He later built and managed The Drift Chalet from 1951 while continuing his ski instructing.
.Have you signed up for our weekly Hotham Herald?