Old Qantas Hangar

Off the beaten track but well worth a visit is the old heritage listed Qantas hangar at Parap. It stands on the site of Darwin's first civil aerodrome at Parap. Ross Smith Avenue is in fact the the original runway on which Ross and Keith Smith landed in December 1919 when they won the first England to Australia air contest and a $10,000 prize.

The history of Qantas Australia is closely tied to Darwin, which was a critical link for air travel between Europe and Australia in the early days of commercial aviation before the advent of modern aircraft which could fly long distances non-stop. The Darwin Civil Aerodrome was the first stop in Australia for all flights and played an important role in Australian Aviation history. The hangar was built in time for the 1934 Centenary Air race, sponsored by Sir MacPherson Robertson. Used by the first Australia-Europe air service (operated by Qantas) and the first Adelaide-Darwin service, it was nearly destroyed by Japanese bombers in 1942. The scars of this are still visible as bullet holes in the steel beams of the hangar.

Planning for a new Darwin airport had started in 1937 and by 1946 all aircraft were using the new airfield and The Dept. of Civil Aviation began using this hangar as a mechanical workshop. Later it was used by DCA for off site storage. The Hangar is now listed on the Register of the National Estate and the NT Heritage Register and owned by the Dept. of Arts and Museums.


View Larger Map

These days it is the home of the Darwin Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club and is used by members to display and restore their vehicles. The collection of old cars and aviation memorabilia housed here is fascinating. Club members are happy to share their experiences with fellow enthusiasts and visitors who are always welcome.

Contact: (08) 8942 0758.

Location: 22 Macdonald St, Parap, NT.

How to get there: by car, proceed out of Darwin via Smith St, right into Gilruth Ave., follow the street signs on East Point Rd, Fannie Bay.

Design by W3Layouts | Content © 2013 Phoenix Group Co. | Sales: phone 1300 753 517, email: [email protected]