In 1962, Reverend Peter Goodwin-Hudson, the Director of what is now known as Sydney Anglican Youthworks, embarked on a visionary quest to establish a ski lodge in the breathtaking Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. With unwavering dedication, volunteers dedicated themselves to the laborious task of constructing the lodge, which saw its inaugural snow season in 1963.

Named the Southern Cross Ski Chalet, this lodge assumed a pivotal role in the ministry of the Anglican Youth Department at the time. Under its roof, managers were appointed to oversee the culinary and housekeeping aspects, while leadership emanated from both Youth Department staff and impassioned volunteers. The original accommodation configuration consisted of two 10-bed dormitories, a staff room, and a managers' quarters.

Fast forward to the early 1980s, when a pivotal decision had to be made regarding the lodge's fate. There was a proposal to sell the chalet to fund the creation of a new facility called "Hilltop" in Jindabyne, intended to better accommodate coach groups from Sydney. Instead of parting with their cherished lodge, a brilliant alternative emerged: individuals were invited to contribute a sum of money and become members of the Preferential Booking System (PBS). This ingenious move successfully raised the necessary funds, ultimately ensuring the lodge's preservation. (Regrettably, in subsequent years, Youthworks did sell Hilltop.)

With this financial restructure, a new company was born, characterized by a board of seven directors. Three were appointed by the Anglican Youth Department Council, and the remaining four were elected by members of the Southern Cross company. This structural framework, established in the early 1980s, endures to this day. Southern Cross Ski Chalet operates as a non-profit company, operating under a limited guarantee model, and is registered as Anglican Youth Department Diocese of Sydney Ski Lodge Ltd.