Conservation works are now underway to protect the heritage-listed Mount Buffalo Chalet.
A $3 million investment by the Australian Government will help conserve the façade of the sprawling chalet and keep it wind and water-tight amid the alpine conditions. This builds upon recent Victorian Government investments totalling $2.8 million and an annual program delivered by Parks Victoria to help keep maintain the site.
The current project will repair the chalet's ageing timber façade and will include painting and important works to several windows. Some timber stumps will also be replaced, and improvements made to water drainage around the building.
Subject to on-ground and construction industry conditions, conservation works are expected to be completed by late 2024.
Built in 1910 in the Mount Buffalo National Park, the 114-year-old chalet is one of the largest timber buildings in Australia. While the building is currently closed to visitors, the areas surrounding the chalet, including the beautiful terraced garden, can still be explored.
The broader national park is one of Victoria's most popular, with hiking, camping, skiing and stunning scenery drawing visitors near and far. Situated on the land of the Taungurung Nation, this diverse cultural landscape is home to an array of native wildlife and more than 500 species of native plants.
In addition to the chalet, Parks Victoria is responsible for managing the state's largest and most diverse collection of heritage places on public land.
From buildings to landscapes, shipwrecks to archaeological sites, Parks Victoria maintains a vast collection of heritage places and objects – providing the community with opportunities to re-engage with, reinterpret and learn from the past.
While preserving the history of the chalet, we're also currently exploring ways to increase tourism opportunities at the iconic heritage place.
