Mount Buffalo Chalet Reopens: A New Era for Victoria's 'Grand Old Dame'

Victoria's Mount Buffalo Chalet, affectionately known as the "grand old dame", is set to get a new lease on life thanks to a partnership between Belgravia Outdoor Education (BOE) and Parks Victoria.

The weatherboard building, which has been closed for 20 years, will be reopened to host school camps and offer a unique experience for students and visitors alike.

A New Era for the Chalet

BOE chief executive Richard Thornton described the heritage-listed building as "extraordinary" and "unlike anything else in the world".

"As you walk around, it's a maze of a place developed over years and years — what you see is an adventure as you turn each corner," he said.

"Three storeys, 200 rooms, 108 bedrooms, most with an ensuite and none are the same size; every room is different and all wood-panelled."

BOE's plan for the chalet includes opening a cafe this month, adding 10 apartments next month, and renovating the south wing to accommodate 200 beds for school camps.

Creating New Experiences for Students

Some 5,000 students per year will soon attend camp on the mountain, staying in the chalet and exploring the Alpine park's natural beauty.

"This is a great outdoor environment — where students can go caving, abseiling, kayaking, mountain biking — you could walk for three days and not see another person — it's an extraordinary environment," Mr Thornton said.

A Lifetime of Memories

Parks Victoria's Chris Derrick has a lifetime of memories of the isolated old-world building.

"I remember coming up here as a very young child in the 70s and having my experience with the chalet," he said.

"And taking my then-girlfriend, who is now my wife, here in the 90s."

"Like countless people and generations before us, we hang on to the memories that are so very dear to us."

A Story to Share

Mr Derrick recalled a recent encounter with an older couple who had worked at the chalet in the 60s.

"They were quite elderly, so I brought them inside and took them on a tour of the chalet," he said.

"Every room we went into, they had a story to share."

"They were in tears as they were walking through and seeing that the place was being maintained and retained its heritage value."

Preserving History

The chalet's interior still boasts many relics from the past, including the "Queen's table", which was used on a royal train when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip toured Australia in 1954.

Mr Derrick said the chalet's construction was a remarkable achievement, given the challenges of building with timber in a remote Alpine location.

"The construction happened very quickly, so the wood was very green, which means some of the walls, floors and panelling have warped over time, and it's all part of the story that has become the chalet," he said.

A Bright Future

Director of the Belgravia group and chair of BOE Alex Lord saw the building's potential as soon as he stepped inside.

"We hear stories of people heading overseas to experience history, old castles, beautiful buildings and here's Australia's largest wooden structure, empty for 20 years, and now thousands of students will get to experience it," he said.

"I would love to host a horror movie film festival [in reference to the building looking a little like The Shining]," he said.