Thredbo will replace the Merritts Double Chairlift in time for next winter with a new Merritts Gondola and you could grab yourself a piece of Australian ski history. The Merritts double chairs are up for auction online with proceeds of the auction going to various charities.
The Children’s Hospital Foundation Australia alongside local Snowy Mountains charities – The Fly Program, Thredbo Early Childhood Centre, Jindabyne Trail Stewardship, Thredbo Volunteer Ski Patrol and Disabled Wintersport Australia will benefit from the auction.
The gondola will be installed in October this year and will transport transport skiers, snowboarders and sightseers from the village to the intermediate and beginner terrain of the Cruiser area in just six minutes with a convenient mid-station.
The chairlift will be decommissioned and disassembled and 112 of the double chairs will be offered up in the online charity auction, that will go live at midday on 24 September 2019.
“The donations will be a nice boost to the nominated charities. They all support our community in different ways and it is great to give back to them so they can continue their important work,” said Stuart Diver, General Manager of Thredbo Resort.
“Thredbo’s support for The Fly Program’s community work through the Merritt’s Chairlift Auction will have a significant impact on our ability to serve the community. One-hundred-percent of the funds raised through this auction will go directly towards supporting Australian adult men and women into our #meninflight and new to be released #sistersinflight program” said The Fly Program Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matt Tripet.
The Merritts Chairlift was the third built in Thredbo and was constructed in the summer of 1967/68 for the 1968 winter. The chair has a 1.35km length over a 297 metre vertical rise and a transit time of 15 minutes taking 500 passengers per hour.
How to bid
The online auction will kick off at midday on 24 September 2019 with budding bidders able to choose their favourite number or just try their luck on any chair.
Continuing for a week, bidders can increase their offer in $5 increments above the set reserve price to secure their bid. With staggered finish dates there are plenty of opportunities to secure a historic piece of alpine Australia.
To start bidding at midday on 24 September, visit thredbo.com.au/auction
