The snow season may be over for another year, but a trip to the National Alpine Museum of Australia (NAMA) at Mt Buller will allow you to immerse yourself in the rich history of snow sports in Australia. Located on Level 1 of the Buller Community Centre, NAMA is the only permanent alpine museum in Australia.
Skiers at Mt Buller 1930's
The museum is dedicated to highlighting the extraordinary history and evolution of the ski fields and snow sports in Australia. There is a vast array of historical ski equipment including wooden skis, sleds and leather boots as well as early ski clothing, historical photographs, literature and film. There is a great representation of Winter Olympics memorabilia, early examples of chair lift equipment and a small gift section.
The museum occupies only a small space but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in content. If you're prepared to spend a little time navigating through the various displays you'll uncover some historical gems. Amongst them, the bobsleigh used in the movie, "Cool Runnings", some pretty funky 80s snowboards and snowboarding world champion, Alex 'Chumpy' Pullins' 2010 Winter Olympic gear.
The National Alpine Museum has over 10,000 objects that illustrate the history of Australia's alpine areas and the development of winter sports. It is an interesting glimpse into a niche segment of Australia's sporting history.
On your way out, be sure to check out the historical display on Level 6 of the Buller Community Centre. It chronicles Mt Buller's journey from its indigenous roots to being a cattleman's run, through to the vibrant alpine resort it is today.
