History flew into the Redlands recently with the unveiling of 10 aviation markers dotted throughout the city.
The markers were a joint project of the Redland Museum and Cleveland Rotary with support from the Redland City Council. The aim was to create 10 historic points of interest in the aviation history of the area.
“Aviation in the Redlands is huge. When I tell people that Qantas and Ansett flew 1000 flights a year from here, people ask me if I’m serious,” ex RAAF officer and Redland museum volunteer Terence Hendricks, 68, of Cleveland said.
The 10 markers date back to 1929, through the war years, include the 1950s flying boat area and finish in 2014.
The first marker is at the council chambers, corner Middle and Bloomfield streets, Cleveland recording the granting of the Freedom of the City to 95 Wing of the RAAF in 2014 .
Markers note the loss of the two 23 SQN RAAF Wirraways which were involved in a mid air collision on February 13, 1942, at Thornlands. One of the aircraft crashed at the mangrove flats (now Ziegenfusz Park) and the other in the vicinity of the Cleveland cemetery. A wing was found in the grounds of Cleveland State School. At the time the area was used for aviation training. The markers are at the park and the school.
The crop dusting strip was at Raby Bay flats where in the 1950s Tiger moth aircraft plied their trade. The first joy flights were also flown in 1929 opposite the Grandview Hotel at the old showgrounds.
The first flight by Barrier Reef Airways was made from the old jetty at Paxton Street near the court house on December 10, 1950, to celebrate the area’s 100th anniversary. Another marker is at the now defunct ramp at Thompsons beach. This ramp was only used once by East Coast Airways in 1962.
There are two other markers at the site of the Redland Bay Flying boat base, as used by Qantas and Ansett Flying boat services from 1953 until its closure in 1974. The Redland Bay Hotel was also used from 1953 to 1956 as the Qantas booking office with flights from Redland Bay to New Guinea, Vila, Noumea, Fiji, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
The blue markers include a photograph of the aeroplanes and information. More information is available at the Redland Museum.
Rotarian and Redland museum volunteer Brian Russell said the project was made by possible through Redland City Council project support grant funding of $3000.
Brochures are yet to be produced to promote the markers as tourist and history destinations in the area.
