We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.

Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.

Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.

Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.

Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.

a crowd stands around as a ribbon is formally cut

See story for image details

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes

Conditions of use

Public domain

This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Mount Buffalo

Mount Buffalo is one of the most prominent beauty spots opened up by Carlo Catani. The mountain resort was noted for its roadway, lake, the Chalet and its golf course - perhaps inspired by the Alpine resorts of Carlo’s birthplace.

Photograph - black and white, Harringtons, 1908, State Library Victoria

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes

Conditions of use

Public domain

This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Image courtesy of State Library Victoria

Carlo Catani was prominent in the opening up of Victoria's scenic tourist destinations including the alpine resorts of Mt Buffalo and Mt Donna Buang. Catani supported and surveyed the main road and tracks, the Chalet, the golf course and the lake (which was named in his honour).

On January 24, 1908 the first sod was turned on a new road between Porepunkah and Mount Buffalo. This road was engineered by Carlo Catani and was designed to open up the Mount Buffalo plateau and its striking landscape, including many interesting granite formations and stunning views for tourists. The road was completed that October and was officially opened by the Premier, Thomas Bent. The woman on the right of the photograph, holding the ribbon, is Alice Manfield. Alice was the daughter of James and Jane Manfield, who operated an early chalet on the mountain. Alice, known as Guide Alice, was a noted naturalist, tour guide and keen photographer.

Photograph caption: Alice is seen holding the ribbon as the Premier of Victoria, Sir Thomas Bent, officiates at the opening of the road to Mount Buffalo. Carlo Catani is just left of the Premier.

Photograph - black and white, Rose Stereograph Co., c. 1920s, State Library Victoria

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes

Conditions of use

Public domain

This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Image courtesy of State Library Victoria

Lake Catani was created by the damming of the Eurobin Creek, with the construction of the weir forming a lake of 58 acres (23 hectares).

The lake was often referred to as a skating lake - a popular location for winter holiday makers, but also used for fishing and water sports. The lake was a project of Carlo Catani’s and it was established to help make Mount Buffalo a year-round tourist resort.

In January 1911, this lake was named in honour of Carlo Catani at the suggestion of the Bright Shire Council in recognition of the work undertaken by Catani in opening up the mountain as a tourist resort.

a chalet sits precariously on the edge of mountain

Photograph - hand-coloured, Victorian Railways, c. 1940s, State Library Victoria

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes

Conditions of use

Public domain

This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Image courtesy of State Library Victoria

With the construction of the road to the summit of Mount Buffalo, along with a number of scenic tracks, the Government expected an influx of tourists, and decided to build the chalet. Once located at Mount Buffalo were the former Carlisle and Manfield Hospices.

The initial plans for the chalet were drawn up by Mr G.H.B. Austin, of the Public Works Department and in September 1908 Carlo Catani surveyed a site for the building. The original plan was to build the chalet of local granite, but this was soon changed to weatherboard for financial reasons. The Mount Buffalo Chalet was opened around August 1910.

a group of people stand with assorted sticks in hand

Photograph - black and white, The Australasian, 1911

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? Yes

Conditions of use

Public domain

This media item is listed as being within the public domain. As such, this item may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Image courtesy of The Australasian (March 11, 1911)

On Saturday, February 25, 1911 a nine-hole golf course was opened on the plateau near the Chalet.

The course was surveyed by and constructed under the supervision of Carlo Catani. Catani was to engage professional golfer, Richard ‘Dick’ Banks to lay out the course. The fairway was sown with alpine grass seed especially imported from Italy.

Photograph caption: The Minister for Lands, Mr McKenzie, driving the first ball at the Mt Buffalo plateau golf course. Carlo Catani is present, second from the left.

Photograph - colour, Martin Wurt, 2018

Reuse this media

Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)

Conditions of use

This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.

Attribution

Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)

Carlo Catani’s contribution to the development of Mount Buffalo as a tourist resort was also marked by the unveiling of a plaque mounted a large granite rock with the inscription: ‘Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of Public Works, 1910-1917. Ye who seek his memorial look around’.

These years mark the competition of the lake and the chalet, which coincided with Catani’s elevation to the position of Acting Inspector General of Public Works.