About Us

SOUTH PERISHER CO-OPERATIVE ALPINE CLUB LIMITED is a cooperative of sixty members.

We still have some original members and their children as shareholders, and now four generations of families have visited South P.

Shares come up for sale time to time. Click here for more share details.

Our members are a diverse group of people who all share a love of the Australian alpine region, outdoor adventures and snow sports. We are managed by a Board and various committees. You can read some profiles of various members here.

Location

South Perisher is perfect for cross-country skiing, with access straight out across Rock Creek Valley and over to 10km loop and Porcupines trail. In winter there is access to the extensive ski lift network of Perisher, which includes the resorts of Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. Alpine skiers and boarders can get to Perisher Blue Resort via the Leichhardt chair, depending on the snow depth, or can ski down to the Village 8 and Quad chair at Front Valley.

Winter access to the lodge is via oversnow transport in the winter months. At all other times you can drive right up to the door, provided you have purchased a NPWS Permit. We are at the ‘end of the road’ in Duncan Place, which makes it a safe and quiet place for families to enjoy making snow men and having the odd snow ball fight!

History

Our club was opened in 1974, though the cooperative was formed in 1971.

The first building erected in Perisher Valley occupied a position between the current Eiger Chalet and Marritz. It was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1959, it is now the Rock Creek Ski Club, which sleeps six people.

Rock Creek joins up with the Perisher Creek down near the Skitube terminal. The camera view over Rock Creek Valley looks south-east over the other end of Rock Creek.

South Perisher Lodge Reflections from Gwenda Sheridan, Founder of South Perisher Cooperative Alpine Club

It was probably me who suggested to Bert that we build our own “family” lodge.

I had the connections with the KNPWS, because I was doing a thesis on the Kosciusko National Park.

It was designed by our next-door neighbour, Theo Lambooy, who was an architect. There were to be 60 members, so we went out amongst our friends and quite a few (either Bert or me) were happy to sign up. Often the men who were at the helm of this (Directors) came to have meetings at our house. At that stage I was the Booking Manager and people rang up as late as 10pm to make a booking.

As a family now of four we spent many parts of winter and summer at the lodge. There was one time when we went with those neighbours and one of their sons was showing Jenny how to build a snow house. I think it was tobogganing before they learned to ski. They seemed to love the snow.

Bert and I were in the beginning both downhill skiers. But as the slopes became more crowded, I said to him, “why don’t we become cross country skiers?” And that happened. It was beautiful out there in the quiet snow covered countryside as we glided along on skis. In summer it was bushwalking along many tracks.