Adastra Airlines people and office building at Mascot, aircraft and aerial surveying equipment, Tennant Creek plane crash and two aerial views of Sydney, ca. 1947-1966

PXD 1357
PXX 95
ON 556

fonds

ca. 1947-1966

Graphic Materials, Photographs

909685

1 negative - 12.5 x 9.9 cm
73 photographs - gelatin silver, 2 mounted - approx. 50.5 x 61 cm, on mount 65.6 x 73.4 cm or less

Adastra Airways began in 1930 as a flying school at Mascot Aerodrome. During the thirties, the company operated a regular airline service between Sydney and Bega. It also pioneered civilian aerial photographic surveys which became their principal activity. In 1940 Adastra discontinued its airline service and became the foremost aerial survey operator in Australia. Adastra mapped much of the nation's post-war development. Financial difficulties eventually claimed this great pioneering company and a much emaciated Adastra closed its doors in 1976.

Reference:
Adastra Aerial Surveys. http://www.adastra.adastron.com/welcome.htm (accessed 10 July, 2013)

On 24 September 1966 a Lockheed Hudson plane operated by Adastra Airways crashed at Tennant Creek airport, killing all six on board. Five of the dead were members of the Adastra crew who were carrying out aerial surveys of the area. The other was an 11 year old boy from Tennant Creek.

Reference:
Tenant & District Times, 13 July, 2013. http://www.tennantcreektimes.com.au/story/364554/plane-crash-killed-six/ (accessed 10 July, 2013)

PXD 1357 (1 box)
Photographs of the wreck of an Adastra aerial survey plane at Tennant Creek, Sept. 1966.
Photographs of the Adastra office building at Mascot, people and planes, including equipment and aeroplane interiors.

PXX 95 (1 folder)
Two mounted photographs of Sydney by Adastraphoto. One dated 1947

ON 556
Negative of aerial surveying equipment inside aeroplane.

Copyright restrictions may apply: Photographs in this collection created before 1955 are all out of copyright. Photographs created after 1955 are in copyright for the life of creator plus 70 years.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.4205 as part of the eRecords Project 2012-13
PXX 95 transferred from PXD 1357/Folder 2, 21 November 2023

Mounted photographs each have an inscription on lower left of mount: 'Sydney 1947' and 'City of Sydney' respectively. Both with 'Adastraphoto' on lower right of mount.