HISTORY

The foundation members of the Christchurch Ski Club Inc survey Temple Basin in 1929.

Temple Basin has long been a study area for New Zealand mountain flora and fauna - indeed it was one of the first 'type' areas where alpine plants were identified, named and recorded.  This work started in the early 1900's and continues today with the visit of many biology students in the summer.

When the Christchurch Ski Club Inc was founded in 1929, it selected Temple Basin as its home due to its proximity to the main road, its location among the high mountains of the Main Divide and the easy access to some incredible climbing routes.

Climbing courses have operated at Temple Basin in parallel to skiing and snowboarding activities since 1929 and the Club has provided facilities in support of this throughout the period.

Avalanche awareness courses were offered at Temple Basin from the 1970's and Dave McNulty's pioneering week long course in the 1980's developed into the Otago Polytechnic/NZ Mountain Safety Council Avalanche 1 course which still operates today.

In 1989, the renamed Temple Basin Ski Club Inc. commenced a building replacement programme which was aimed at providing top class accommodation for skiers, climbers and other guests.

In 1993 a 70 seat lecture theatre was added to the building to host the activities of the New Zealand Snow Safety Institute and other educational groups who rent the facilities.

Today, the facility is recognised for educational excellence and is known as an "Education Super Site" on the Department of Conservation's Estate.