1965 - First Direct Flight from the United States to Sydney

Source: Anon. 1965. "End of the big hop". The Daily Telegraph, March 9: 17. 

Did you know that this month is sixty years since the first non-stop flight by a commercial jet from the United States to Australia? It was now possible for Australians to fly from Australia to the United States and vice versa without having to stop en route in either direction. It wold mark a significant milestone for Australian aviation

The first non-stop flight did not carry passengers. It was a delivery flight for Qantas who were accepting delivery of a Boeing 707 jet, named the City of Townsville.

To save petrol, the jet was towed to the runway at San Francisco International Airport, where it departed on March 6 1965. Due to crossing the international dateline (adding one day heading west), it landed at Sydney Airport on March 8 1965.

Flight time was 14 hours and 32 minutes, impressive when compared with the 13 hours and 20 minutes used by more prominent and more advanced jets. 

In 2025, flight times (non-stop) to American Cities flying from Sydney Airport are as follows.

Sydney - San Francisco:              13h, 20 min

Sydney - Los Angeles:                 13 h, 40 min

Sydney - Dallas:                           15 hours

Sydney - Houston:                        15 h, 35 min

Qantas introduced non-stop flights from Sydney to Los Angeles in 1984. when Boeing 747 jets could carry a full load of passengers across the Pacific without stopping. They had to use a smaller variant (747SP) which was designed to cover greater distances than other 747 jets operating at the time. 

 

Source: Anon. 1965. "First Flight Non-stop Over Pacific". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 10: 8.

1965: How the Wentworth Hotel got its name

Source: Anon. 1965. "New hotel is Wentworth". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 26:14. 

The Wentworth Hotel in Phillip Street is one of Sydney's most prestige hotels and has been operating since 1965. Originally developed by Qantas, the hotel is currently part of the Sofitel group of hotels. 

I found an article from The Sydney Morning Herald that was published on August 26, 1965 that explains how the hotel got its name. 

The public were asked to provide submissions - Qantas Hotel was suggested, but was dismissed as Qantas would not own the hotel. Matilda and Waltzing Matilda were also other names suggested. 

In the end it was named the Wentworth Hotel for the following reasons:

• Continue the name and tradition of the original Wentworth Hotel in George Street which Qantas was due to close and demolish for the Qantas Centre (Suncorp Centre).
• Tribute to William Charles Wentworth who has been recognised as the founder of constitutional government in NSW.

1974: TAA build another new terminal at Sydney Airport

Last week, I published an entry on the opening of the Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) Terminal at Sydney Airport in 1962.

In the years following the opening of the terminal, growth in jet travel exploded along with the introduction of new innovations in airport design and travel meant that TAA needed to build a new terminal to cater for passenger growth and provide modern facilities for passengers.

In December 1974, TAA opened a new terminal to the north of its 1962 Terminal Building curving around Shiers Avenue. It was three times bigger than the previous terminal building.

Facilities included:

• Five aerobridges - Passengers no longer had to worry about walking across the Tarmac to board their flight.
• Faster baggage collection and handling systems
• Escalators to departure lounges
• Electronic Information Boards
• Special Group Convention Lounge
• Shops (Newsagent and snack bar), Restaurant and Bar

The now former 1962 terminal building was handed over to East-West Airlines. 

Part of the terminal still remains as part of the Qantas (T3) Terminal, home to Gates 16 and 17 as this recent image from Google Maps shows.

 

COVID-19 Restrictions have meant that I cannot locate media coverage of the actual opening from the Microfiche reels, but I have included a newsreel (top of page) with this entry but also a newspaper advertisement that was promoting the new terminal from mid 1974. It is likely that a follow-up entry will occur at a future date.

Source: Trans Australia Airlines (TAA). 1974. "For business travellers - TAA flying ahead" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, May 6: 19. 

1962: TAA Terminal opens at Sydney Airport

Source: Trans Australia Airlines. 1962. "TAA opens new, Jet-Age Sydney Airport Terminal" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, May 16 1962: 14. 

Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) was an airline established by the Federal Government in 1946 to operate domestic passenger services within Australia. It operated under this name until 1986 when it was renamed Australian Airlines and was merged with Qantas in 1993.

In 1962, TAA undertook a significant upgrade of its terminal at Sydney Airport at a cost of £150 000 ($300 000) which doubled the space of the terminal and improved passenger comfort and capacity. The new layout separated departures from arrivals along with an upgraded baggage handling system. Passengers waiting for flights could purchase a meal, snack or drink from a coffee shop or buffet. In addition there was an airconditioned dining room for passengers and visitors awith a flight deck to view arriving or departing aircraft.

Also the new terminal had a new phone service where passengers could be paged and receive phonecalls at points located around the terminal.

Above: The 1962 TAA Terminal Building as viewed from above on Google Maps, which is currently part of the Qantas (T3) Terminal. 

The Terminal was located in what is now the southern end of the T3 (Qantas) Terminal. In 1974, the terminal was handed over to East-West Airlines after TAA opened a new terminal next to the building on its northern side. However it was intergrated into the T3 Terminal. Gates 18 and 19 are located at the rear of the building. 

1989: The first non-stop London to Sydney flight

Just over a week ago (November 15), Qantas conducted a non-stop flight from London to Sydney using a 787 Dreamliner jet. The flight which carried a few dozen passengers was for research purposes as Qantas aims towards providing direct flights from the east coast of Australia to London and New York by 2022.

This flight was thirty years after the very first non-stop London to Sydney flight which was also undertaken by Qantas using a Boeing 747-400 jet. The 18 012km flight took 20 hours, 9 minutes and 55 seconds, arriving in Sydney on August 17 1989.

With the recent test flight involving the 787, it took 19 hours and 19 minutes to traverse the route. A new record.

Below is coverage from The Daily Telegraph from August 18 1989.

1968: Plans for the Qantas Centre are unveiled

Source: Anon. 1968. "Untitled" (Artists Impression). The Sydney Morning Herald, May 7: 1. 

In 1957, Qantas moved into their Chifley Street Headquarters (QANTAS House) but just one decade after moving, Qantas was in need to move again. The ushering of the jet age during the swinging sixties fuelled the growth of Australia's international airline. The arrival of 747 jumbo jets was also going go fuel further growth.

QANTAS House was located on the eastern side of the Sydney CBD, but QANTAS had managed to secure by 1968, most of the block bounded by George, Grosvenor, Lang and Margaret Streets. It was going west.

In May, it was announced via a press release that they were planning to build two towers on the block. The first tower would rise approximately 607 feet and contain 48 levels. It was slated for completion in 1973

A second smaller tower would be built at approximately 500 feet tall (150 metres). However it would not be built until 1983 and accommodate further growth of the airline. Apart from shops at street level, a park and plaza were planned.

Industrial disputes meant that the first tower was not completed until 1981. It holds the record for the longest construction period for a city building in Sydney. The second tower (NAB House) was completed in 1985 (the process for this tower commenced with site tenders in 1981). It retained the Octagonal shape, but the sides appear more equal in length.

The Qantas Tower as viewed from Grosvenor Street, 2009. Photo taken by the Author. 

1987: Sydney Airport Centre development

In late 1987, plans were unveiled by CRI for a major development at Mascot, near the Domestic Terminal complex. The development would include an 11 storey hotel with a retail complex, plus new catering facilities for Qantas and major airlines. Bourke Street. would be extended through the area.

Source: Holland, L. 1987. "$150m hotel complex on airport site". The Daily Telegraph, November 25:9. 

The hotel was built and is currently the Holiday Inn Sydney Airport. In recent years, the Adina Apartment Hotel has opened alongside it. Qantas ended up basing their headquarters there. The key decisions that Qantas have made in recent decades have been made right at Mascot, not a boardroom in central Sydney.

This combined with the decision to construct Mascot Railway Station as part of the Airport Line (opened 2000) has helped establish it as a centre of business. It's proximity to rail and to the city also has aided in the establishment as a residential hub. Mascot is also regarded as part of Sydney's global arc of business stretching from Sydney Airport north to the Sydney CBD and northwest to Chatswood and North Ryde.

Below are two photos of the Qantas Headquarters (Photos taken by the Author).

Holiday Inn Sydney Airport (Photo taken by the Author). 

And finally, two photos of the area around Mascot Station in 2011 (Photos taken by the Author).