TASMANIAN AVIATION - REAL PHOTO and PRINTED CARDS

[Ross Ewington]

Early Tasmanian postcards featuring aviation-related views are uncommon to say the least.

The card below is a real photo type (photographer unknown) and dates from around 1912.

The subject is my maternal grandfather George Hollow pictured with his working model of
a Wright Brothers' "Flyer" which he flew successfully until it crashed into the sea off Ocean Beach
near Strahan.

I believe the photo to have been taken at Zeehan.



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If you have any early cards featuring early Tasmanian aviation and related topics, please post images and information
in this topic.

[Mike]

Tasmanian postcards with an aviation theme are indeed rare, but mainland aviation cards are also uncommon. A quick search has found 2 real photo cards which are both great cards especially the Deloraine card. Early plane landings in small towns created great interest with the locals. I suspect that many locals had not seen a plane before.

Card 1. "First aeroplane to land at Deloraine 27/10/19" Real photo by R.C.Cameron. I believe Cameron was a local photographer from Deloraine (more research needed here). Long does not list him (along with many other photographers). I have a couple of more cards by him, all local Deloraine area.

I believe the pilot to be Lieutenant Arthur Long from Tea Tree, Tasmania. He made the first aerial crossing of Bass Strait (Tas to Vic) on 17/12/19 in a Boulton and Paul 2 seater biplane built in England. Long was also well known in Tasmania for his flights between Hobart and Launceston and other parts of the state.




Card 2. The famous aviator, Bert Hinkler. The first plane to land at Scottsdale ? 11/5/28. Looks like the footy ground. Again more research is need on Hinkler's early Tasmanian flights.

[Ross Ewington]

Information about Hinkler is available at this site:
http://www.hinklerresearch.org.au/

An interesting history of Tasmanian aviation is provided at this site by the National
Trust of Tasmania ... it includes a small photo of Hinkler's aircraft "parked" outside the
Wynyard Golf Clubhouse!
http://www.nationaltrusttas.org.au/avia ... ritage.htm

Here is a couple of photos taken during Hinkler's visit to Tasmania in 1928

[cobba]

Great PC with Kingsford Smith landing the "SOUTHERN CROSS " at Brighton I think in 1934 ?. Please inform if this date is not correct. No known photographer on kodak paper , box has a cross in each corner.

Cheers Kerry

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[cobba]

Plane has G.E BOX on side, looks like Burnie.? Has "M.F Nicholls and "Rutters Studio Burnie in Violet. Verification would be appreciated.

Cheers Kerry

[Ross Ewington]

Yes, Bert Hinkler at Burnie would be correct. Note the smoky fire lit to show wind direction at the Burnie Show Grounds (at Wivenhoe)

Interesting that there is "Rutter Studios.....' h/s on the back as the business was sold to M.F. Nicholls in 1927. Nicholls became a successful cinematographer and worked for Cinesound from 1933.

[cobba]

Early Tasmanian aviation postcard somewhere in Tasmania ? Any comments

Plane at western Junction

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[Ross Ewington]

I have just received this interesting card as part of an auction consignment. It features a photograph of Delfosse Badgery,
the first person to fly a powered aircraft in Tasmania during September 1914; the card includes a printed autograph.

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I have found two attributions for this photo to the Tasmanian Mail, but although there is a possibility that the card was produced
in Tasmania, it may have been that the illustrated newspaper obtained the photo from Badgery so I'm not making any claims.

I have spent over an hour trying to locate another example of this postcard but without success. I did however find out some other
interesting stuff about Badgery, the most significant being that he married Dorothy Wall in the 1920s, the creator of the "Blinky Bill"
series of children's books ..... and yes, Badgery Creek near Sydney (proposed as a location of a second airport for the city) was named
after his family.

[cobba]

Postcard undated by C. Gruncell, "Sirius" of a Float plane off Ocean Pier Hobart. Excellent condition

Cheers Kerry cobba

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[Ross Ewington]

What a terrific card and thanks for posting it here Kerry.

Any idea as to the year in it was taken?

[Ross Ewington]

I have recently located another example of the same Gruncell card that Kerry has illustrated above plus this exciting little 'find' ....three real photo cards by Jas. Chandler showing a Fairey IIID seaplane being raised/lowered at King's Pier, Hobart.
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I did a little research and this is what I discovered ...... sorry regarding the "auction style' description but that's what I do!

"1926 - three unused real photo cards by Jas. Chandler with views of one (or both) R.A.N. Fairey IIID seaplanes visiting Hobart from Pt. Cook (VIC) for the annual regatta; only seaplane “A10-2” can be identified. The cards comprise two views of a seaplane being raised/lowered from/to the Derwent at King’s Pier by steam crane (still on the docks today!) and another with a close-up view of one of the planes on the wharf."