ABOUT US
NAMA is an independent volunteer run and operated museum with a focus on the stories of Australia's alpine regions. Our principal site is located at Mount Buller in Victoria. We partner with individuals and organisations across Australia’s alpine regions (NSW, ACT, Victoria and Tasmania) to deliver a regularly changing program of exhibitions, programs, events and digital projects.
As an independent association with DGR status our funding comes from a range of sources which include sponsorship, our Friends program, philanthropic donations, grants and commercial activities.
Alpine Resorts Victoria are a Major Partner supporting our operational funding, and providing in-kind support in the form of exhibition and storage space.
MISSION
Uncover, share and preserve stories of Alpine Australia, inspire others to discover, protect and connect with our mountains.
VISION
To be Australia’s leading alpine cultural organisation. Reaching out across the mountains using stories to celebrate and inspire thriving alpine communities.
ACCREDITATION
NAMA is the only Australian alpine cultural organisation accredited as part of the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) Victoria Museum Accreditation Program (MAP).
NAMA has been an accredited museum since 2015 and was reaccredited in 2022.
MAP is a peer review program which uses the National Standards for Museums and Galleries to provide a framework for museums, galleries, historical societies, heritage sites, and archives to achieve best practice across all aspects of operations and increase organisation profile. MAP has been managed by AMaGA Victoria since 1993.
In 1999, following the fifty-year anniversary of the installation of the first rope tow at Mt Buller and the formation of several ski clubs, Sandy Jeffcoat, then CEO of the Resort Management Board and David Hume, a former Chairman of Orange Ski Lifts, with support from the Mt Buller Ratepayers Association decided it would be a good idea to establish a museum in order to preserve the history of the local community. They saw that many of the people involved with setting up the ski industry in its early days at Mt Buller were getting old and if their histories were not captured were at risk of being lost forever. Gathering together interested and enthusiastic people this group started the process of creating a museum. On 3 October 1999 local parliamentarian, Graeme Stoney, formally opened the Mt Buller Museum.
OUR HISTORY
As the only alpine museum at the time the collection quickly expanded to include material from Australia’s other resorts. So in 2002 the name was changed to the National Alpine Museum of Australia to reflect its national focus.
From humble beginnings with 60 donated items, today NAMA has over 25,000 objects which chart the development of Australia’s alpine regions, the history of winter sport in Australia and tell the stories and achievements of both famous and infamous alpine personalities.