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The Mt Franklin Chalet, Canberra occupies a special position in the mind of Canberra ski enthusiasts. The Mt Franklin Chalet, Canberra was built in 1938 to serve the Canberra Alpine Club but was unfortunately demolished in the January 2003 bushfires. It may be mentioned here that Mt Franklin Chalet, Canberra was the oldest ski chalet on the Australian mainland. Mt Franklin Chalet, Canberra happened to be the local central point for skiing during the 1940s & 1950s. The January 2003 bushfires ruined 488 houses, killed four people, and damaged a lot of public property leading to loss of natural and cultural heritage sites.
It has become very difficult to cope with the large scale devastation wrought by the January 2003 bush fires. Plans are there to reconstruct some of the heritage icons such as the Tidbinbilla Education Centre, Mount Stromlo Observatory as well as the Mt. Franklin Chalet, Canberra. The ACT Government had to dig deep into the pocket to facilitate quick recovery operation. Government has announced $239 000 Heritage grants for organizations and individuals to fund 23 projects aimed at enhancing the conservation of heritage sites across the ACT. Canberra Alpine Club alone has received $5,500 for the conservation of historic ski equipment and other artifacts that endured the destruction of the Mt Franklin Chalet, Canberra in the January 2003 bushfires. It may be mentioned here that the grants, under the ACT Heritage Grants Program is the chief source of Government funding for individuals and community organizations involved with heritage conservation. The projects focus on the conservation and restoration of significant heritage sites for documenting the historical heritage of various cultural groups.
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