StateLibQld 1 240148-c Aerial view of Charleville, 1934

Aerial view of Charleville, 1934.
London- Melbourne Centenary Air Race was sponsored by Sir Macpherson Robinson as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations in October, 1934. The Centenary Air-Race was one of the greatest air races in aviation history, according to some. The route stretched over 19 countries and seven seas. Five compulsory stops were designated for both divisions. Between the five stops (Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, Darwin and Charleville) pilots could select their own route.
Winners of the speed section of the race were British fliers C.W.A. Scott and T Campbell-Black in a red DeHavilland 88 Comet, named Grosvenor House. They reached Melbourne in two days 23 hours 18 seconds, with a total air time of 71 hours. Winner of the handicap section, and second fastest with an air time of 81 hours 10 minutes, was the Dutch airliner Uiver (Stork). Crewed by Parmentier, Moll, Prins and Van Brugge and carrying three passengers, the Douglas DC2 was entered by KLM airlines and showed that passenger air travel could be comfortable, safe and reliable.

This photograph is taken from an album titled 'Centenary Air Race Photographs, Charleville' compiled by the Courier-Mail & Telegraph, Queen Street, Brisbane, December 1934. Photographs were taken when pilots stopped at Charleville on their way to Melbourne.