We all know about Australia’s busiest international hub – Sydney’s Kingsford Smith (SYD) – and if you live in Sydney then you’ve probably heard of Bankstown Airport as well – used mostly by private aircraft, to the southwest of the city.
I’m not talking about Bankstown though…
You see, in the early days of commercial aviation there was another local contender for airlines bringing mail, cargo and passengers from the rest of the world – and back. It was even closer to the CBD than the current location at Botany Bay.
You would never believe that the quaint harbour side village of Rose Bay once operated a bustling international terminal for flying boats. These behemoth aircrafts were called so due to their body being in the shape of a hull and their ability to take off and land on water.
Empire Class flying boats were the first to be used on the route, boasting comforts like smoking lounges, bars and sleeping cabins – like you would see on luxury trains. These sturdy beasts cruised at a solid 160mph.
The next type of flying boat that frequented Rose Bay – called Catalinas– were put into use after the war finished and they were no longer needed to be used as bombers. If you’re involved in Sydney’s luxury dining scene then you’ll be nodding your head – knowing that the famous restaurant on Rose Bay’s wharf is called by the same name.
This iconic white building visited by celebrities and boasting uninterrupted water views was originally the terminal for the IATA registered international airport – using the code RSE.
Aviation geeks can hop on the ferry from Circular Quay for a short photogenic trip to Rose Bay and look for the plaque commemorating the airport’s past in Lyne Park.
The airport code is surprisingly still used (go on, check) and a small floatplane operator runs charter trips as far as Newcastle, Canberra and Lake Jindabyne – as well as daily scheduled sightseeing flights catering to the tourist market.
Don Willcox, Jack Hill, John Davis, Bryden Allen, Dave Witham, Ben Sandilands, Jack Pettigrew. At the flying boat base in Rose Bay, Feb. 1965. Photo Credit: Bryden Allen
The 1930’s were arguably the heyday for long-distance aviation. Romance and adventure combined along with a pinch of risk to provide a truly unforgettable journey. Qantas burgeoned the route – favouring the latest style of flying boats – by introducing their famous Kangaroo route.
Discerning, rich (the fare was roughly a years average salary) passengers could whisk themselves to London in about five days. To think that customers these days scoff at the possibility of stopping twice on the way to Europe, the trip in the 1930’s did it in thirty stops on average. Each flight took aboard 15 passengers, 5 crew and a few hundred pounds of cargo.
Qantas Empire Airways – in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown. Photo Credit: Aussie Airlines
The trick was to stay above bodies of water – for obvious reasons. So the Catalinas hopped up the east coast, resting in Townsville overnight before steering towards Darwin, Jakarta and finally finishing in Singapore – then British Imperial Airlines took it from there, via India, Egypt and the Mediterranean. I guess it was one of the original code-share agreements.
Unfortunately, the excitement and comfort of flying boat travel was short-lived. After the war, new technology was tested and more economical, faster, pressurized land based models took over. They were still used for a lot of domestic routes but by the seventies they were just phased out due to age.
I for one would love to see Qantas or another airline take on an updated flying boat style service – turning air travel back to where it came from – full of excitement, romance and luxury.
