Rimstone Cooperative Ltd - a brief history.
Members and friends of the Victorian Speleological
Association formed the Rimstone Cooperative Ltd. in 1974.
People have been interested in the caves around Buchan for
about 20 years and had stayed at a variety of locations
throughout the area but never with a secure tenure. In 1974,
it appeared that the owner of the building that was then being
used by cavers for accommodation, the 'VSA Hut' was about to
reclaim the land to erect a new house. Many members of the VSA
were prepared to put money into the purchase of a place to
stay, but were unwilling to channel this money through the VSA
which at the time was not a legal entity. As a direct result,
Rimstone Cooperative Ltd. was formed to be the legal entity
required to support the endeavour.
Later in the same year, the Cooperative commenced the
purchase process of "Homeleigh", a former guesthouse and the
original Buchan Pub. The final payment was made about five
years later and funds are now being channelled into the
maintenance and major renovation projects aimed at improving
facilities for both Rimstone Cooperative Ltd. members and
their guests.
The Rimstone Cooperative is a Community Advancement Society
registered under the Victorian Cooperative Act 1958. The
society is run by a board of five directors, elected for two
years (in two groups) at the annual general meeting, usually
held in September or October each year.
Location - "Homeleigh" is located in Buchan,
about 330km east of Melbourne in the South-East Gippsland
region. It provides a unique hostel-style form of
accommodation with all the modern conveniences and is only a
short drive away from the major caving areas.
What to bring - While "Homeleigh" has a fully
equipped kitchen and bedrooms sporting double and bunk beds,
it is important to remember to supply a few necessary items of
your own; sleeping bag and/or bedding, pillow case, towelling,
toiletries and food.
How to get there - Travel from either
Bairnsdale or Orbost and follow the signs to Buchan. When
arriving at Buchan, keep travelling north through the township
and across the infamous Buchan River bridge. Once over the
river bridge, "Homeleigh" is the last house on the left. If
you go too far, you will end up in Murrindal, or perhaps
eventually in Jindabyne.
Facilities in town - In the small township of
Buchan, a few facilities are present including a General
Store, the Caves Hotel which also serves meals and a
Post Office. (When you visit the pub, tell the hotel staff
that you are staying at Homeleigh, for an extra "smile".)
Bookings are absolutely essential - We do not
currently have a resident caretaker, so there is often no one
on site and the place is securely locked. To make a booking
for your stay at Homeleigh, contact the bookings officer by
copying the following email address into your email program
and sending them an email detailing your request:
Upon making a booking, the Rimstone Booking Officer will
reply, and will email to you a Booking Letter. The email will
advise of your successful (or unsuccessful) booking. The
Booking Letter contains some information regarding what is
expected of you and of every other guest (ie. Terms and
Conditions) - it is very important reading. All guests are
expected to comply with the terms in the Booking Letter.
Please take time to view Homeleigh's floorplan and
request suitable rooms for your stay in Buchan. If you would
like to get in contact with guests currently residing at
Homeleigh, please call 5155 9520. Note that this number should
not be used for bookings, enquiries or outgoing calls while
staying at Homeleigh.
Duties for all guests - Homeleigh is run and
operated by volunteers, and relies on the guests to help with
the ongoing smooth operation of the facility. Every guest will
be allocated a "duty" towards the end of their stay, which
needs to be completed before final departure (eg. vacuum
bedrooms, mop out toilets, clean down the kitchen, etc.).
These duties are usually allocated to more than one person, so
it is a simple case of pitch in and complete the task quickly.
Payment of monies - It is essential that your
accommodation monies are paid promptly. If there is an MIC on
duty (see below), then they will be happy to take your
accommodation money. The Accommodation Sheet needs to be
completed. All monies and the Sheet need to be sent in one
package to the Rimstone Treasurer asap after the visit (or the
cash can be banked asap - all in one deposit). It is not
acceptable to have multiple Accommodation Sheets, or multiple
bank deposits. Your cooperation to assist our volunteer
members with the smooth running of these processes will be
greatly appreciated.
MIC - Member In Charge - Often on weekends,
and sometimes during the week, there might be a Rimstone Coop
member staying at Homeleigh. This person will be the "Member
In Charge" (MIC) and is there to ensure the smooth operation
of the facility, and to promptly collect all accommodation
monies from those staying at Homeleigh. The MIC is not a tour
guide. They will be trying to enjoy their own stay in Buchan.
The MIC's duties include being responsible for allocating
clean-up tasks to be done at the end of the visit, and they
will allocate a duty to every guest (see above). If there is
no MIC on site, then the facility should be securely locked.
So guests cannot simply turn up and expect to be accommodated.
| Address |
Postal |
| Rimstone Cooperative Ltd. |
Rimstone Cooperative
Ltd. |
| 15 Gelantipy Rd |
P.O. Box 2543 |
| Buchan. Victoria 3885. |
Mt.Waverley, Victoria,
3149 |
| Australia |
Australia |
