RECENT snowfalls across the North East's alpine resorts are helping to build excitement and expectation ahead of the 2023 season opening on the weekend of June 10 and 11.
Falls Creek and Mt Hotham were blanketed in 10cms of fresh snow on Sunday, adding to the 12cms of snow which well earlier in the week.
Temperatures dropping to minus five degrees as the cold front swept across the alps allowed snow guns to continue at full blast to make snow across the resorts.
"Things are looking very good for opening weekend on June 10 here at Hotham," said Emily Smith, field marketing manager at Mount Hotham Skiing Company.
One of the exciting events which will help mark the season opening at Mt Hotham will be a public auction of the 57 chairs from Hotham's first ever chairlift, The Playground Chair.
"This is a very special chairlift, Hotham's first – a two–seater that opened in 1969 that was the main access lift back to the village until 1993 when the Village Chair opened," said Nathan Butterworth, VP + GM of Mount Hotham Skiing Company.
"What's even better, the auction is for a great cause with all money raised to be donated to local charities, community groups and environmental initiatives through our EpicPromise Foundation."
Groups within the Alpine Shire are encouraged to apply – for more info go to https://www.mthotham.com.au/discover/connect–with–us/latest–news/2023/playground–chair–auction–charity–application
The auction will combine both in–person and online options to ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate.
The in–person auction will be held on opening weekend at The Bird, Mt Hotham, on Saturday, June 10 from 4pm – 6pm with John and Lachlan Castran of Castran Real Estate auctioning off at least 15 chairs to the Hotham community.
All remaining chairs will then be released for online auction via the Givergy platform on Sunday, June 11, with bidding closing on June 16.
Chairs won at auction will only be available for collection at Mt Hotham Airport following the conclusion of the snow season, between October 2 to 12 (Monday to Thursday from 8am – 4pm).
To register, please visit: https://www.mthotham.com.au/discover/connect–with–us/latest–news/2023/playground–chair–auction–charity–application#14616387–about.