East Gippsland residents are invited to discover a remarkable story of resilience, adventure and history at an upcoming author talk on the new book, Pearl Bradshaw – Princess of Hotham. 

Written by Stephen Whiteside, the book tells the story of Pearl Bradshaw and her husband, Jim, who managed the Hotham Heights Chalet at Mt Hotham for nine consecutive winters from 1937 to 1945. This period spanned the devastating 1939 bushfires, which burned almost two million hectares across Victoria and destroyed the Chalet, as well as the challenges of the Second World War. 

During these years, the Chalet was the only accommodation on Mt Hotham and for much of the time, the only significant lodging in the Victorian ski fields. 

The book draws on interviews conducted with Pearl in 1987, originally for research into Snow, Fire and Gold - the story of Bill Spargo and Evelyn Piper’s life in the Australian mountains, published last year.  

On revisiting the interviews, the author discovered more than 40 anecdotes that revealed the extraordinary life Pearl led at Mt Hotham. These stories, combined with photographs, historical images from ski magazines of the era, and contemporary colour photos, bring Pearl’s story vividly to life. 

Stephen Whiteside will be visiting East Gippsland to share insights into Pearl’s remarkable experiences and the making of the book at Omeo Library on Wednesday 10 September, from 10.00 am to 11.00 am, and at Bairnsdale Library that afternoon, from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm, for this special author talk celebrating resilience, adventure and history. 

To book your place, visit our website or visit one of our libraries. 

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