Botanist and Conservationist, Gustav Weindorfer emigrated from Austria and arrived in Melbourne in 1900 as a diplomat for the Austro-Hungarian Consulate. He was a member of the Victorian Field Naturalists' Club and later moved to Tasmania in 1906 and settled in the Cradle Mountain area. ;;Together with his wife, Kate (nee Cowle, who died in 1916) Gustav first visited the Cradle Valley in January 1909. Both soon had a vision to protect the area and have people know and enjoy it. The couple settled in the area in 1912 and built Waldheim Chalet to encourage visitors and spread appreciation for the magnificent scenic area. From Christmas 1912 Waldheim was open to visitors and by 1914 had grown to eight rooms and a small hut nearby. Regular motorised transport to Cradle Mountain started in 1921. The Cradle Mountain area was proclaimed a reserve in 1922 due largely to the efforts of Weindorfer.;;Gustav died at Waldheim of coronary vascalur disease in 1932. Gustav's wish to be buried at Waldheim was fulfilled by his friends from Launceston - Messrs. Charles Monds, Frederick Smithies, George Perrin and John Branagan - and Major R. E. Smith of Ulverstone. A granite cairn over his grave was unveiled in 1938.;;