History Archives - Page 13 of 23 - Destination's Journey

2 March 202312 February 2023

Canberra Airport Hudson Bomber

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105 in RAAF markings at Canberra Airport

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105 at Canberra Airport

Something you don’t expect to see is a five-tonne bomber on the second floor of an airport terminal. However, Canberra Airport has a Lockheed Hudson bomber doing just that. Sitting at the far end of the check-in desks, it’s a monument to all of the RAAF crews who served in similar aircraft during the Second World War.

Lockheed Hudson

Developed from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra airliner, the Lockheed Hudson was a light bomber and maritime patrol aircraft. Initially developed for Britain just prior to the Second World War, the Hudson. Of the 2,841 Hudsons built, 247 served with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Following Japanese attacks on Malaya, Hudsons from No. 1 Squadron RAAF became the first Allied aircraft to make an attack in the Pacific War, sinking a Japanese transport ship, the Awazisan Maru, off Kota Bharu at 0118h local time, an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105

Lockheed Hudson Mk.IV A16-105 was built in 1938. It arrived in Australia in early December 1941 and was used to train RAAF aircrews. Between December 1942 and January 1943 it saw operational service in Papua and New Guinea, carrying out supply flights during the Allied advance on Buna, on Papua’s north coast.

After the war, A16-105 was flown as a photographic survey aircraft. It completed its last flight in 1998, and was purchased by the Australian War Memorial in 2001. It has since undergone an extensive restoration to its wartime configuration.

If you are interested in more of our photos of Lockheed Hudson bombers you can find them here.

25 February 202310 February 2023

Feared and Revered

Celebrating female power through the ages, Feared and Revered examines the diversity of spiritual females from cultures across the globe. Located at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, until 27 August 2023, the exhibition has over 160 objects from the British Museum. There is also a section on Australian Indigenous female ancestral figures.

What’s on Display

With artifacts from six continents covering 5,000 years, the variety of items on display is impressive. If you like ancient history or archaeology, you will love this exhibition, because of its diversity. Not only does it cover the usual Egyptian and Greek periods, but includes China, India, South America and the Pacific.

We found the statues from the Middle East were great, with Ishtar, Sekhmet and Isis all represented. Greek and Roman culture was covered by Amphorae decorated with Persephone and statues of Hecate, Athena and Demeter. Medusa was also present in a small carving.

The statues from India and Mexico were ones we had not seen before, along with the masks from the far east and South America.

If you are in Canberra before August 2023 this is a great exhibition. We were very pleased that we went along.

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For other great stories from Australia, please use the main menu above, or click on this link

Yawkyawk - Northern Territory Australia Feared and Revered — Yawkyawk – Northern Territory Australia

Kubaba Turkey 1000-800 BCE — Yawkyawk – Northern Territory Australia

14 February 202310 February 2023

Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building

Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

Originally Sydney’s Post Office (GPO), this beautiful building has been repurposed into the Fullerton Hotel. Completed in 1891 after 25 years of construction, it served as the GPO until 1996 when the main post office relocated. Instead, Australia Post operate a smaller Postal Shop from the George Street end of the building. At this time, a refurbishment of the building took place. This entailed enclosing the courtyard into an atrium and turning the remaining building into retail shops and offices. With its prominent position on the corner of George St. and Martin Place, it’s a beautiful building and easy to find.

Tour of the GPO

Our tour of the Old-GPO took us through the building, while learning about its history. Originally designed by James Barnett, the building was later expanded as postal services grew. If you look at the exterior photo, you will see that the lower two floors have arched windows, while the upper floor’s are round. Apparently Barnett thought that the later architect ruined his design by not continuing with the arches on the upper floor.

We were able to climb the interior spiral staircase to the upper floors, but access to the clock tower is restricted. This is because the stairs are no longer safe for visitors and are in need of repair. We did see the smaller George Street clock from the round windows on the third floor. From here you are able to see the clocks mechanical workings.

The old GPO courtyard is now covered, forming an atrium where natural light streams in from the glass ceiling. This is a great sight, even from ground floor, but is much better on the access bridge from the third floor. From here you are able to look down onto what was once a bustling courtyard, but is now a relaxed open space.

Even if you do not enter the building the exterior is worth looking at because of it’s carvings and colonnade. At 114m long, it’s still one of the largest sandstone buildings in Sydney.

What Did We Think?

This was an interesting and informative tour, accessing areas usually off limits. We especially liked the atrium and internal staircase as well as the colonial sandstone architecture.