In 1927, the Australian Aero Club (Tasmanian Section) was formed, marking an exciting new chapter in Tasmania’s aviation history. Just a year later, the Federal Government invited the Aero Club to find a suitable location for an aerodrome near Launceston. They chose part of Hogarth’s Farm at Western Junction — a decision that would shape the future of flight in the region.
By October 1930, the Aero Club Hangar was built, and on the 23rd of November that year, the very first flight took off from Western Junction. It was a Gypsy Moth, gracefully piloted by Captain Joseph Francis.
A historic milestone followed on the 16th of January 1931, when the legendary Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew the first passenger flight from Melbourne to Launceston in the VH-UMF Southern Cloud. He returned to Melbourne just a few days later, on the 19th of January.
Then came a truly unforgettable day—February 28th, 1931—when Western Junction Aerodrome (known today as Launceston Airport) was officially opened by Colonel Brinsmead, the Controller of Civil Aviation. The celebration drew a crowd of 15,000 people who gathered for a vibrant public open day, complete with an awe-inspiring air pageant.
The Holyman family generously donated a flagpole to the Aero Club – a very special one, as it was originally the mainmast of the S.S. Toroa, which was wrecked on Rabbit Island in the Furneaux Group back in 1916. Today, it still proudly stands as the only above-ground structure at Western Junction that was here on opening day in 1931.
Just a year later, on March 19th, 1932, the first commercial flight between Western Junction (LST) and Flinders Island took off. The aircraft was a Desoutter MKII, registered VH-UEE and affectionately known as Miss Flinders. Remarkably, just two days after that inaugural flight, Miss Flinders was also used for the first aero-medical evacuation from Flinders Island to Western Junction, marking the beginning of a proud tradition of community care and connection.
Miss Flinders 1932
In 1936, Tasmanian Aerial Services expanded and became known as Australian National Airways (A.N.A), marking an exciting new chapter in aviation history. Around the same time, Hangar 17 was extended to the size we see today, and passengers were treated to a more comfortable experience with a newly upgraded departure lounge and airline offices – a sign of the growing importance of air travel in Tasmania.