This acquisition documents skiing as an essential means of transport for high altitude workers on the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The stocks are significant because of their use by Hans Berents, a Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority engineer, who used them when undertaking field research between 1952 and 1960.
In 1949 a massive national and international recruitment programme was launched to find workers with scientific and engineering skills for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Migrants from many countries with skills in surveying, tunnelling, geology and hydrology came to work on the project. Hans Berents was a Norwegian engineer who emigrated to Australia in 1952, with his Russian-born wife, Dr Ina Berents, and son Peter. The family moved to the Snowy and both Hans and Ina were employed as professional staff by the Authority.
Skis were an essential means of transport for engineers, hydrographers, geologists, and surveyors who needed to work in the high-country sites during winter. Investigation teams went into the mountains to gather and analyse information about topography, rock types and water flows before construction work could begin. According to Peter Berents his father often skied into inaccessible locations to conduct field research for the Authority.