The G-AUDI story

Australia’s first scheduled air service wasn’t a QANTAS service. It was the Western Australian Airways northwest airmail service from Geraldton to Derby.

Sadly, the first flight from Geraldton to Derby was a disaster. Three Bristol Tourers G-AUDI, G-AUDJ and G-AUDK left Geraldton on 5 December 1921, and one hour later G-AUDI crashed at Murchison House Station killing both the pilot, Bob Fawcett and mechanic, Ted Broad.

Fawcett and Broad were buried in the small station cemetery after a burial service conducted by the station manager

The airmail service was temporarily suspended until better landing grounds and emergency strips were established.

The wreck of G-AUDI was eventually transported to Perth.

The WAA northwest airmail service resumed in February 1922 and continued until 1934.

From our Ted Fletcher Collection

Our Ted Fletcher collection includes:

• B&W photograph captioned ‘This Tourer had the shortest life in service – one day. Leaving Geraldton on 5 December 1921, it crashed one hour later killing the pilot, Bob Fawcett and mechanic, Ted Broad. The aircraft is pictured here on Langley Park at the foot of Hill St, Perth.’

From our Frank Colquhoun collection

Our Frank Colquhoun collection includes:

• Frank Colquhoun 1920s Album page 2a (4 images plus captions)
  Image 2. B&W photograph. 1921 G-AUDK photographed from G-AUDJ (L.E. Taplin) which in company of third Bristol with N. Brearley, pilot were initial outward flight from Perth by air mail contract to Fed. Govt. G-AUDI ill-fated to crash at Murchison House Station next day with loss of lives of the pilot and mechanic, 5 Dec 1921.
  Image 3. B&W photograph. 1921. Wreckage of Bristol G-AUDI at Murchison House Station. The first and disastrous air mail flight from Geraldton to Derby. The service temporarily suspended pending establishment of better landing grounds and emergency strips en-route. Dec 1921.
  Image 4. B&W photograph.1921. Wreckage of Bristol with Manager, James Hazelby and horse drawn dray at crash site. The two members were given a burial with every reverence in a burial service conducted by Mr. Hazelby and attended by other members of the party in the small station cemetery. Dec 1921.
• Frank Colquhuon Album page 2b – Images FC001, FC002, FC003, FC004 plus captions
  FC001, B&W photograph. 1921. Wreckage being examined by Major Norman Brearley (in cap) with Jack Trestrail (the mechanic with Len Taplin). The wreckage was eventually transported to Perth.

For more information

See our G-AUDI Flickr Album for digitised images and other digitised information.