A first trip ‘round the world, part 36

Pension Grimus was built by Hans Grimus, around 1969, just before we came to Mt. Buller, yet, I don't believe I ever set foot in that building. 

Initially, the Tyrolean-style Pension Grimus was intended to be just a bed and breakfast place, but when a restaurant was also added to the premises, the Orange Lifts company requested that Grimus made it available to house its 17 ski instructors and provide them with breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

In other word, full room and board, hence the name “Pension Grimus”. But beyond this establishment, Hans story is also quite unique and worth telling. 

He had migrated to Australia from Austria in 1960 and got to Mt Buller in 1961 after working as a carpenter around Melbourne, because he was a good soccer player and the tradesmen he would be working for needed a good one for their team. 

He then moved to the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. At first, it began as a means of obtaining extra irrigation, however it soon expanded to integrate a hydro-electric power supply. 

The purpose of the “Scheme” was to collect water from the east of the Great Dividing Range and divert it westward through the Snowy Mountains to create a major water supply for farmers and also to generate electricity. 

This is while he was working on this project, that in fact was quite dangerous, that Hans Grimus got to know Mt. Buller and its nascent ski industry. 

With little skiing experience (something that might sound strange coming from an Austrian native), he managed to stay upright on his first run down Federation and got a job as lift operator for Ernest Forras, the owner of Kooroora. 

He continued working for Ski Lifts Mt Buller (Later renamed Orange Lifts) and eventually became its manager. Hans and his dog Kaptan were inseparable and both were iconic to Mt. Buller, especially after Kaptan decided to take on skiing! 

Hans was charismatic and had a bigger-than-life personality on the mountain. He was a loved member of the entire community, and respected throughout the ski and the wider tourism industry. 

He had a reputation as an impeccable host, an astute businessman, as well as being the life of any party. 

He passed away in September of 2018 at age 78.