Before Airbnb, TripAdvisor and online accommodation bookings, or grabbing a glossy colour brochure at the local travel agent, tourism was a core function of both State government and local councils.
The Victorian Railways first established an “Inquiry Office” in 1888 at Spencer Street Station to assist tourists. They offered road maps and guides and also organised reservations at hotels and guest houses.
Organised tours were very popular before access to personal cars became more common. The railways also built and operated the Chalet at Mt Buffalo.
Skyline Tours began on the Mt Bogong Range in 1926 as “Personally Escorted Mountain Hikes”.
Control of the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau transferred from the Railways to the newly created Tourist Development Authority in 1958.
The Forests Commission didn’t offer tourism packages but promoted State forests by providing facilities at popular destinations like Sherbrooke, the Grampians and Marysville.
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 