Snow skiing had its genesis in Australia 150 years ago, at the Snowy Mountains settlement of Kiandra, New South Wales. A small group of Austrians and a Norwegian, goldminers at the settlement, were behind the activity. The club that developed was called the Kiandra Snow Shoe Club, later renamed the Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club. This is thought to be the first and longest-surviving ski club in the world, established the same year as the first club in Norway, although the claim is not universally supported.

Today, skiing and snowboarding are undertaken in three Australian states: New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Australia’s 14 alpine resorts are of varying size and sophistication, the most popular being Perisher, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Hotham and Falls Creek.Victoria is home to a total of eight resorts, some of which offer only cross-county skiing; New South Wales is home to four; and Tasmania to two. Between them, New South Wales and Victoria attract the lion’s share of skiers and snowboarders, Tasmania representing around just one per cent of the market.

The three stamps in this issue represent the two most popular alpine leisure sports in Australia, downhill skiing and snowboarding. They focus on recreation rather than competition and represent a range of proficiency, from a tentative learner to advanced slope slayers. The photographs also depict a sense of place, Australia’s snowfields being unique for their open vistas and alpine gums.

Technical details

• Issue date: 19 July 2011
• Issue withdrawal date: 31 January 2012
• FDI withdrawal date: 16 August 2011
• Denominations: 1 x 60c, 1 x $1.60, 1 x $1.65
• Stamp & product design: John White
• Printer: RA Printing
• Paper – gummed: Tullis Russell
• Paper – s/a: B100
• Printing process: Lithography
• Stamp size: 26mm x 37.5mm / 37.5mm x 26mm
• Perforations: 14.6 x 13.86 / 13.86 x 14.6
• Sheet layout: Modules of 50
• National postmark: Jindabyne, NSW 2627

published July 22nd, 2011