The Grollo Group, fresh off the purchase of Hotham’s airport to create a staff housing village for resort workers, have now signed a 73 year $400,000 sublease on Falls Creek’s Bogong Village.
The rundown village sits on the road between Mt Beauty and Falls Creek and will be redeveloped by Grollo Group as a workers village. Originally used for the 1940s hydro scheme, Bogong Village is currently controlled by AGL who will continue to operate the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and Bogong Power Station on the village edge.
Grollo are the family name behind Mt Buller ski resort with Mt Buller Ski Lifts, hotels and retail in their alpine portfolio. The group is expected to spend up to $6million renovating 27 cabins plus a local tavern in the Bogong Village in the hope of providing more staff accommodation for businesses at Falls Creek.
Up to 200 beds will be ready for the 2024 ski season with more to be added in the years following.
Staff housing is a serious issue in Australia’s tourism towns from coastal enclaves such as Byron Bay to the alpine ski villages in New South Wales and Victoria. Short term stays have impacted the number of beds available for seasonal workers and directly impacted local business.
The housing crisis threatening to kill ski towns in Australia
The Bogong Outdoor School currently supports outdoor learning for school children (both primary school and high school) and will continue to operate.
