 |
Mt Hotham today is a significant Alpine Resort,
strongly associated with Dinner Plain. It is now a part of the Alpine Shire but was, for more than a hundred years, part of Omeo Shire. It is possible that the first European to reach Mt Hotham was the explorer Lhotsky in 1834. He certainly reached what is now Omeo and its likely also Mt Hotham. As recently as 1965 Mt Hotham was struggling to become a tourist attraction. To quote from his book "Echoes from the Mountains" by A.M Pearson MBE; "1965: The shire president and Cr Coffey reported on a visit to Mt Hotham by the Minister of Lands. The Hotham committee was authorised to have buildings constructed to the value of 10000 pounds, 5500 being by direct grant, the balance provided for by a loan free of interest. The committee of management were doing their utmost to develop the area as a tourist resort, yet at the same time the only licensed premises in the area had been reported by tourists for failing to give satisfactory service. It is one thing to encourage tourists to come to the district, but the most important of all is that a high standard of accommodation is available." Its interesting to compare this with the multi million
dollar |