1974 - 1980 - 1981 - 1983 - 1986 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007

 

 

In early 1980 the Eddy family embarked on the creation of a recreation park with an amenities building, restaurant, carpark and, the all important, chairlift. The chairlift started its life in the Snowy Mountains as part of a grand, but unsuccessful, scheme to link the Chalet at Charlotte pass to the Alpine Way at Thredbo. This venture was abandoned after high winds and repeated heavy snowfalls rendered it inoperable. The Eddy family bought the chairlift and transported it to Jamberoo. As the lift was isolated inside a National Park it was removed, in pieces, by helicopter as the alternative was to drive vehicles "off road" and this was not permitted. Once in Jamberoo the chairlift was upgraded and erected by experienced contractors from "the snow". The drive unit required a new motor, the sheave assemblies (which were the cause of most of the derailing problems of the original lift) were redesigned, the cable was replaced and new chairs built around the frames of the originals. The remainder of the chairlift, including the towers and bull wheels, was in good order and was erected without modification.		The first stage of Jamberoo Recreation Park was completed in time for the staging of the 1980 Australian Grass Ski Titles with final safety checks just one day prior to the event. To ensure that the chairs were safe two, 200 litre, drums of water (at least 400KG of weight) were attached to each chair on the uphill side of the lift, the brakes were disconnected and chairlift allowed to build up speed and then staff had to stop it by winding on a handbreak. The test was passed with flying colours and the following day paying customers took their first rides. The chairlift is still in operation and, even if you don´t want to join in the physical activities, the ride is worth it to see the spectacular coastal views from the top.
The Chairlift