The Central Australian Aviation Museum is an
aviation museum
An aviation museum, air museum, or air and space museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual, replica or accurate reproduction aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas ...
in
Alice Springs
Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' A ...
,
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...
, Australia.
History
The current Museum Building was erected in 1940/41 and served as the main base of operations for
Connellan Airways
Connellan Airways (later Connair) was an airline headquartered in Alice Springs, Australia. It operated scheduled flights as well other air transport services throughout the Northern Territory from 1939 to 1980.
History
The company was fo ...
(later Connair) from 1939 to 1968. Due to the limitations of this Townsite Aerodrome for larger aircraft operations and the expansion of Alice Springs, the move to the present airport was eventually forced upon Connellan Airways. The larger Bellman Hangar, which occupied the site next to the present hangar was moved to the present airport and all operations ceased at Townsite by June 1968.
The Townsite Hangar was left derelict and the air strips disappeared under the rapid expansion of Alice Springs. The houses and road fronting the Museum are on the old main runway. By 1977 little trace could be found of the runways, and the Townsite Hangar was in a sad state of repair, having had no maintenance for 9 years. It had become a haven for those without ready accommodation and its interior and exterior had been a target for vandals.
The founding of the Central Australian Aviation Museum in 1977 soon changed this situation.
A very active voluntary committee was formed following the suicide flight at Alice Springs Airport in January 1977. It was not long before the Hangar was reclaimed and work commenced on its renovation. This early start could not have been made without the support of many people previously associated with Townsite. Many of these people joined the new Museum and willingly paid $50 membership without question or guarantee.
This immediate response allowed the Museum to rapidly find its feet and open its doors in May, 1979. Financial assistance from the Northern Territory Government was crucial in establishing the Museum.
Since 1979 many more exhibits have been acquired, such as aircraft, engines, components, historical photographs, papers, and videos.
In March 1984 the collection was officially handed over to the Northern Territory Museums and Arts Galleries Board who have accepted responsibility for its preservation, presentation and administration. It is now possible for people to visit the Museum free of charge and find out for themselves the story of ‘Townsite Alice Springs’ and the role it played in the development of Central Australia.
Collection
See also
*
Araluen Cultural Precinct
*
List of aerospace museums
This is a list of aviation museums and museums that contain significant aerospace-related exhibits throughout the world. The aviation museums are listed alphabetically by country and their article name.
Afghanistan
* OMAR Mine Museum, Kabul - inc ...
References
External links
Central Australian Aviation Museum– official site
Museums in Alice Springs
Aerospace museums in Australia
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