Qantas and Australia Post 100 Year Centenary Commemorations

[Princess Fiona]

I was lucky enough to be able to join in the trip to outback Queensland recreating the first regular airmail and passenger service which occurred between Charleville and Cloncurry on 2nd and 3rd November 1922.
I will post some of my pics and info from the trip.

Departing Brisbane on QF6660

 

[Princess Fiona]

There was a reception in the Brisbane J Lounge before departure.
We got to see the first passenger ticket.
Andrew David is holding it in the pic
Then we boarded from Gate 6 for our first stop Charleville.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Plenty of swag onboard and we also got a bag of assorted QF / AusPost goodies at the gate.
Champagne breakfast with a fruit platter.
First stop was Charleville. Where we had lunch at the Hotel Corones

 

[smckay]

A Dash 8. Oh dear.
Did they supply quality noise cancelling headphones?
Or was the trip a faithful re-enactment of air travel back in 1922? It could have been worse, looking at the AP brochure

 

[AIRwin]

Where we had lunch at the Hotel Corones

Hotel Corones back in the day (circa 2021)

 

[AIRwin]

First stop was Charleville.

In case you didn't get a chance to check these out at the airport:

 

[Mattg]

Looks like a great trip @Princess Fiona!

A Dash 8. Oh dear.
Did they supply quality noise cancelling headphones?
Or was the trip a faithful re-enactment of air travel back in 1922? It could have been worse, looking at the AP brochure

Maybe this makes me an oddball, but I actually quite like the Dash 8s. Feels like real flying, which is probably appropriate for this occasion

 

[Princess Fiona]

After lunch and a beer at the bar we went back out to the airport and boarded the flight to Longreach.
There was some more swag on the seats

Hugh Sheridan was onboard to give us a song on the PA.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Landed at Longreach to absolutely glorious weather. Not too hot at all.
Went to our accommodation for the evening (Saltbush Retreat) and got dressed up for the Roaring Twenties coughtail party at the Founders Museum.

At the end of the evening we saw Luminescent Longreach
It was magical although I was feeling a bit chilly in the open air.
The pic is from QF Insta as they asked us all not to use our phones during the show.

 

[justinbrett]

A Dash 8. Oh dear.
Did they supply quality noise cancelling headphones?
Or was the trip a faithful re-enactment of air travel back in 1922? It could have been worse, looking at the AP brochure

It's a Q400. The Q stands for Quiet.

Or at least, Quieter.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Next morning we are up bright and early and back to the Founders museum for breakfast and a great send off to Cloncurry.
A very cute performance by the local children’s school choir brought some tears to some eyes in the audience maybe even my own


View attachment trim.CA45A988-903A-4AFB-8855-D866F83D0F13.MOV

 

[Princess Fiona]

Some more Longreach pics

We even got to sit inside this !! And get some photos.

 

[Princess Fiona]

We took off for Cloncurry. Some of the media entourage left the trip at LRE but the majority came with us to the final stop.



Another excellent lunch at the hangar on arrival.

And of course the original purpose of that flight was delivering the mail !! And so we did with mail from Charleville school kids to Cloncurry kids. 106 letters which is the same number as that first service.

After a quick pit stop at the accommodation we were whisked off to the unveiling of a new memorial commemorating the birthplace of Qantas in Cloncurry

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hotel Corones back in the day (circa 2021)
View attachment 306234

It hasn’t changed much then

 

[Princess Fiona]

There was an afternoon tea at John Flynn Place and then we all got frocked up for the gala dinner.
This was actually an event that was already arranged independently of QANTAS and QF kind of asked nicely if we could gate crash it
All 60 odd of us.
Dress code was black tie/ formal.
3 course meal, drinks and dancing. It was a fabulous night



There may have been afters at the hotel pool but what goes on tour stays on tour

 

[Princess Fiona]

It was a 0630 call time this morning and there may have been a few stragglers.

Back to Cloncurry airport for breakfast and some much needed caffeine before last pics and boarding our flight back to Brisbane with a short stop at Charleville.

Of course we took some letters back with us



A trivia quiz on the flight back and some final words from Catriona the EM of Qantas freight.

I was lucky enough to be on the trip courtesy of being one of the winners of a P1 competition.
A great time was had by all.
The hospitality we had from the Queensland communities was very heart warming.

And with that I need an early night now

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for the trip report and sharing your great photos @Princess Fiona . Looks and sounds like a wonderful experience

 

[craven morehead]

I'm a big fan of Saltbush Retreat

 

[John in Melbourne]

Plenty of swag onboard and we also got a bag of assorted QF / AusPost goodies at the gate.
Champagne breakfast with a fruit platter.
First stop was Charleville. Where we had lunch at the Hotel Corones
View attachment 306227View attachment 306228

The fruit and champers breckie looks good, and the old photo is interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[BD1959]

Great report and photos - thanks for sharing Princess Fiona!

Regards,

BD