Search

Mountain Journal

Environment, news, culture from the Australian Alps

Open Search
Category

Uncategorized

What happened after the miners strike at the Cobungra Ditch?

Although most of our mountains are still a wild landscape, largely free of housing and direct development, they are a deeply peopled landscape. In the ‘story’ of the high country, the cattle people have been dramatically over represented in films, books, books and even poetry. First Nations people barely get a mention. The hydro workers have a lot of literature around their story and mining is a distinct sub set of history, although when Australians think of our mining history, I don’ think many connect with mining in the high country.

I spend a lot of time around the Mt Hotham – Dinner Plain area, and mining features in the early story of those places. And there is one story that often intrigues me that doesn’t seem to have an answer. What happened with the miner’s strike near Mt Hotham in 1883?

Continue reading “What happened after the miners strike at the Cobungra Ditch?” →

0

The hut that saved me, and other stories

Mountain Journal started as a website in the summer doldrums of 2010. In 2021, it finally emerged in print form as a covid lockdown inspired project. Since then there have been five annual editions produced. It is written each summer and distributed through mountain areas each autumn and winter.

As we get to the end of 2025, we are thinking about the 2026 edition and would welcome your ideas and contributions.

Continue reading “The hut that saved me, and other stories” →

0

FoE and POW events in north east VIC

Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Protect our Winters (POW) recently collaborated on a series of events in north east Victoria as both groups aim to ramp up their efforts in that part of the state in coming months.

Continue reading “FoE and POW events in north east VIC” →

1

A new push for a cable car on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington

There has been a long community-led campaign to oppose the plan to build a cable car up the face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, the mountain above Nipaluna/ Hobart. (You can read the many MJ stories on the topic here).

You may have heard of a new push by the government for a cable car.

The following information comes from Residents Opposed to the Cable Car.

Continue reading “A new push for a cable car on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington” →

0

The federal gov is assessing the Falls to Hotham development

For years now we have covered the debate around the Victorian governments plan to radically upgrade the Falls to Hotham Crossing (you can find stories here). It would upgrade the current walk, diverting it via Mt Feathertop and The Razorback, and is deeply unpopular among most outdoors users and environmentalists as it would introduce private commercial infrastructure in the Alpine national park.

While this is a state government initiative, there is now a very short period of time to make a submission to the federal government about the proposal. This is because it is being reviewed under the federal nature laws (called the EPBC). Opportunities for public comment close on November 10, 2025. Please take a few minutes to send in a personal submission.

Continue reading “The federal gov is assessing the Falls to Hotham development” →

0

Skiing in the Pyrocene

Back in 2022, I helped host an event at Mt Hotham called Climate change, fire and the Alps. I remember being struck by something that was said by one of the speakers. Craig Hore, who at that point was a Ranger in Charge of Fire and Emergency Operations North East District, at Parks Victoria, reflected on his long connection to the mountains. Fire regimes in the high country have changed in the last quarter century, with more frequent and intense fires.

Craig reflected on the fact that since the fires of 2002/3, the mountains have been transformed. With ever more frequent fire and drier conditions, he doesn’t think that we can go back to what the Alps used to be like. In his early days as a Ranger he could drive through older forests for hours. But now so much of the park has been badly impacted by fires. “I doubt we will ever see those old forests again.”

Continue reading “Skiing in the Pyrocene” →

0

Walks, forums, ecological restoration in north east VIC

There are a number of environmental events being planned for mid November in north east Victoria.

In mid November Friends of the Earth will be hosting walks on the Buffalo plateau and the following day Protect Our Winters and Upper Ovens Landcare will co-host a planting day, followed by a film night in Bright.

Continue reading “Walks, forums, ecological restoration in north east VIC” →

0

Snow Gum Summit will return in 2026

Snow Gum Summit – Next Ascent: Protecting Alpine Landscapes

Friends of the Earth Melbourne is excited to share that we are organising a second Snow Gum Summit, which will take place in March 2026 on Ngarigo Country in Jindabyne. The Summit will bring people together from across the Australian Alps bioregion spanning Victoria, NSW and the ACT, to address the threats facing these iconic landscapes we all know and love.

Snow gum forests and woodlands are under accelerating stress from climate change, fire, and beetle-driven dieback. The widespread dieback is equivalent to that of a mass bleaching event of the Great Barrier Reef. Without bold interventions, these ecosystems face ecological collapse within our lifetimes.

The summit will happen over the weekend of March 14 and 15.

Continue reading “Snow Gum Summit will return in 2026” →

0

FFMV fleet ‘offline’: what does this mean for the high country?

DEECA and Forest Fire Management Victoria have grounded the entire ultra-light firefighting fleet in Victoria just weeks before fire season commences.

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and the Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action (DEECA) have grounded their fleet of 290 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons and 59 Unimogs. According to reporting from the ABC this was due to safety concerns. There are reports of cracking in the chassis of G-Wagons.

What will this mean for fire fighting in the high country?

Continue reading “FFMV fleet ‘offline’: what does this mean for the high country?” →

0

Oregon ash. Whitebark Pine. Ponderosa pine. The Cider Gum. All heading in the same direction.

One of the regular themes here at Mountain Journal is the threats posed to mountain environments by climate change (also called global heating). Climate change is already impacting all ecosystems in the mountains, and we have been seeing declining snow pack since at least 1957. Longer droughts, more intense fires, warmer temperatures, species moving to higher elevations. The impacts are quantifiable and incredibly depressing.

While this information is readily available, there is a strange denial that exists in large parts of the outdoors and mountain communities and certainly in the snow industry. And many others, who are willing to acknowledge what is happening, seem unwilling to commit either time or money to reduce the impacts of climate change. When we have a normal(ish) sort of winter as we experienced in 2025, the snow and mainstream media herald it as a ‘bumper’ winter.

Continue reading “Oregon ash. Whitebark Pine. Ponderosa pine. The Cider Gum. All heading in the same direction.” →

0

Hike for the High Country.

Globally, Alpine Ecosystems are in trouble. Right now our snow gums, an iconic feature of the Australian alps, are facing a mass mortality event and are at risk of ecological collapse due to dieback and the impact of repeated bush fire.

You can help save our snow gums by planning a hike through the Australian Alps this walking season.  While you are walking, record your observations of snow gum dieback and fire impact via our citizen science initiatives.

Continue reading “Hike for the High Country.” →

0

Screening of ‘Liquid Heart’ in Melbourne

We’re bringing ‘Liquid Heart’ to Melbourne!

Liquid Heart is a film that shifts the narrative.

The film demonstrates the power of collaboration led by Nature with First Nations voices, grassroots communities, practitioners and land managers in healing Country to restore balance to one of Australia’s most loved yet fragile landscapes—the Australian Alps.

The story of our natural world doesn’t have to be doom and gloom; it can be one of hope, resilience and regeneration.

Continue reading “Screening of ‘Liquid Heart’ in Melbourne” →

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑