Following the conclusion of The Great War (WWI), and the subsequent boom era, Australia developed a passionate enthusiasm for aviation

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GCSE History

Following the conclusion of The Great War (WWI) was the boom era of the 1920s. This period saw Australian society develop more consumerist ideals and become more interested in thrill seeking it also saw Australia developed a passionate enthusiasm for aviation. The combination of technology and thrill seeking drew many Australian’s to the wonders of flying machines. Aircraft were shown to provide a multitude of uses, due largely to Australia’s sparsely populated and isolated location. The establishment of The Royal Flying Doctor Service was vital in linking Australia’s remote and isolated communities with the necessities of general health-care and emergency air ambulances. Likewise, the formation of QANTAS made travel between Australia’s distant localities straightforward and safe. Society was irreversibly affected both socially and economically by the advancement in aviation technology throughout this interwar period.

The foundation of QANTAS began in March 1919, with the failed attempts of former Australian Flying Corps officers W Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness to enter a competition to fly from England to Australia within 30 days. Instead, they accepted an assignment from the Defence Department to survey the air race route from Longreach in Queensland to Katherine in the Northern Territory, leaving supplies along the way for the competitors. Driving by Model T Ford, their 51 day, 2179km journey brought upon them the realisation that an air service was the key in linking remote outback settlements1. Fysh later wrote:

"We were convinced of the important part aircraft would eventually play in transporting mail, passengers and freight over the sparsely populated and practically roadless areas of western and northern Queensland and North Australia." 2

To realise their vision, the men required financial backing. The key, they discovered, was in the wealth of the outback station owners and graziers, who knew first hand the difficulties outback land travel provided. One such grazier was Fergus McMaster. He was crossing the sandy bed of Queensland's Cloncurry River when his car broke an axle. McGinness helped recover the vehicle and the two struck up a friendship. Mc Master was able to convince his business associates to invest in the initial service including joy rides and air taxi trips.3 On 19th August 1920, the business bought 2 Avro aircraft under the name Western Queensland Auto Air Service, with the name being changed to Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited (QANTAS) on 16th November that year. The Avro, carrying two passengers in an open cockpit behind the pilot, was used for joy rides and air taxi services while promoting the advantages of air transport to thousands of potential customers4.

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In 1924 the first closed-cabin aircraft was introduced. The introduction of the four-passenger DH50 meant passengers did not have to wear a helmet and goggles. The Prime Minister of Australia, Stanley Melbourne Bruce, made Parliamentary history by becoming the first Australian Prime Minister to use air travel for an official journey. QANTAS grew domestically over the next decade, with new mail contracts and routes developing into much of Queensland and the Northern Territory. On 26th February 1935 QANTAS aircraft took over the Darwin-Singapore sector of the royal mail route. 5 On 17 April that year it operated its first overseas passenger flight ...

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Following the conclusion of The Great War (WWI), and the subsequent boom era, Australia developed a passionate enthusiasm for aviation
Document Details
  • Word Count
    1952
  • Page Count
    8
  • Level
    GCSE
  • Subject
    History
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