TL;DR
Charlotte Pass's long-awaited Guthries Double Chair is now in motion, with chairs circulating the line for the first time following construction completion in late April. Testing and commissioning is underway - the final stage before it can carry passengers. The lift is expected to improve access to Guthries terrain and ease congestion ahead of the resort's June 20 opening.
Australia's newest chairlift is spinning, and the 2026 season is six weeks away.
At Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, the Guthries Double Chair is now circulating for the first time, marking the completion of what has been a longer-than-expected construction journey. Chairs are moving on the line following the wrap-up of works in late April, and the lift has entered testing and commissioning - the final stage before it can carry paying passengers.
It's a satisfying milestone to land this close to the season. With most Australian resorts targeting the June long weekend for opening day, having a brand-new lift in commissioning now means there's a genuine runway to get it certified and ready before the lifties pull on their bibs.
From groundworks to spinning wheels
By March, the hard structural work was largely done - the top station operator hut, bullwheel, tensioning system and all seven towers were in place. What remained was the technically demanding task of hauling and splicing the haul rope and attaching the chairs. That work is now complete, and what was a worksite a few weeks ago is now a functioning lift system waiting on final sign-off.
