FALLS CREEK MUSEUM

Community Backed

It would be ironic to say that the Falls Creek Museum has some history in Falls Creek – but that is exactly as it should be. Since opening in June 2013 (then in the Ground Floor of Snowlands Centre) our museum has seen a few changes. The major change was the move to the southern end of the Panabode building beside the bottom station of Halley’s Comet in 2015.

The Falls Creek Museum is a credit to the many people who have contributed – the team who did the renos and rebuild, the wonderful people who volunteer and the members of a very strong Falls Creek Historical Society committee who continue to work and put together fascinating memorabilia for sale. Visit: https://www. fallscreekmuseum.com.au/ to discover more about the Museum and to check out some of the items for sale.

It would be fair to say that our museum ‘is not just being a museum.’ It is an active group of volunteers who devote considerable energy to continually making the museum a ‘better place!’

Last weekend saw a group of keen volunteers and committee members take part in a digitisation workshop with the museum’s digitisation officer Vicki Cooper. Vicki is working with the Historical Society through to October this year as part of our successful Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant. Attendees at the workshop learnt how to take photographs using a Lightbox, how to catalogue items onto Victorian Collections using the correct terminology and also how to categorise items so that they tell a story online. This whole digitisation process is about securing the valuable collection that shows just what a wonderful village we have here.

Thank you to Vicki for showing us the ropes, FCAR for the use of the boardroom and to the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant for their financial support in making this valuable project a possibility.

Volunteers Needed

Are you looking for something a little different this season to occupy some down time? Each year we put a call out for volunteers for the Falls Creek Museum. We look to open the doors of the museum six days a week between the hours of 12noon and 4pm but need help doing this. You do not need to know the history of Falls Creek in depth, help will be at hand for tricky questions and there is plenty of information on show should you wish to learn more.

We are asking volunteers to do a four hour shift each week on the same day. There will be a roster allowing some room for moving or swapping shifts allowing for some flexibility. We are also looking for volunteers who might have the flexibility of coming in when required but not the ability to commit each week.

The role comes with all the training required, as well as access to a fridge and microwave and tea and coffee making facilities as well as a toilet for volunteers. The museum is located at the base of Halley’s Chairlift so you could even get first tracks and ski right to your shift.

The museum is heated and has an office where the volunteers can do their own work if visitation is low, or volunteers can be trained to assist us with our digitisation program.

If you are interested in helping out in the museum one day a week or event wanting to get involved with our digitisation project, please get in touch via our email at info@fallscreekmuseum.com.au •

Mid-year Property Market Snapshot!

One of the most common questions we’re asked is how the local property market will perform over the coming months.

Heading into 2023, Mount Beauty and its surrounds experienced strong demand for both sales and rental properties. In fact, according to Open Agent, median property prices in the Alpine Shire almost doubled in the five years to Dec 2022.

Recent data suggests a slight decline in the local median house price - which sits around 6.3% lower than this time last year, according to realestate.com.au.

Yet, if you are considering selling, it’s worth noting we’re still experiencing a high volume of inquiries from people hoping to relocate to the area, as well as from renters looking to purchase their own home.

As a gateway to the ski fields, there are plenty of eyes on Mount Beauty during the winter months! Plus, national forecasts generally suggest a strengthening in house prices approaching 2024.

Check out our recent listings here: www. alpinevalleyrealestate.com.au/buy Alpine was one of ten council areas in the state that posted double-digit rent rises in 2022, and rents are still an average of 10.5% higher than last May.

Like much of Australia, limited supply is a key driving force, and we suggest this will continue to encourage robust rental returns over the medium term.

Whether you’re in the market for a quality rental or want to purchase a home or investment property in this beautiful region, head to our website or call to us today on 03 5754 4999. Alpine Valley Real Estate. 7 Hollonds Street, Mount Beauty. •