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75th Anniversary of QANTAS & Last Flying Boat BasePrint Page 
The memorial commemorates the 75th anniversary of QANTAS, and the last major flying boat base in Australia.
On 4 August 1938, Rose Bay Water Airport was officially opened. However, it already had been established as a flying boat base on a 'temporary basis', and was the starting point for the London-Sydney flights that were operated by Qantas Empire Airways and Imperial Airways in a codeshare agreement. This made it Australia's first international airport. In 1942, due to the outbreak of World War Two, commercial flights were suspended. Due to the arrival of passenger jetliners in the 1950s, a gradual demise in flying boats began. In 1955, QANTAS discontinued its flying boat service and sold its fleet of flying boats to Ansett Airways. Ansett continued to operate flying boat services from Rose Bay Water Airport to Lord Hoew Island until that was discontinued in 1974, after the island's land airport was opened.
Location
| Address: | New South Head Road & Rose Bay Ferry Road, Lyne Park, Rose Bay, 2029 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.870355 Long: 151.263486 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Technology |
| Sub-Theme: | Industry |
| Approx. Event End Date: | November-2013 |
Dedication
Remembering the last major flying boat base
This is the site of Sydney`s first international airport.
By arrangement between the Commonwealth Government, QANTAS Empire Airways and Imperial Airways, Lyne Park became home to the Rose Bay Flying Boat Base in 1938. Operating between Sydney and London the service was initially used to transport passengers and air mail. The journey took nine days in total, with QANTAS flying the Sydney to Singapore leg in three days, and Imperial Airways flying the rest of the way. This first leg included stop-offs at Brisbane, Townsville, Groote Island, Darwin and Surabaya in Indonesia.
During World War II the base came under defence control and was expanded to host a large force of military flying boats and sea planes, before reverting to civilian use at the end of the conflict.
Rose Bay remained an international terminal until the 1950s when Mascot took over the role. The flyiing boats then changed destinations and began flights to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
By the 1960s the base was primarily used for tourism, before closing permanently in 1974. The only building remaining from the Flying Boat Base is the former RAAF Officers` Canteen, which is now a Scout Hall. If you follow this path east to Vickery Avenue, you will see it across the road.
Seaplane charter flights showcasing Sydney`s spectacular coastline have continued to operate regularly out of Rose Bay since the end of the flying boat services.
This plaque was unveiled in November 2013, to mark the 75th anniversary of QANTAS Airways Limited and to commemorate an important part of our local history.
Jointly funded by Woollahra Council and QANTAS Airways Limited
