GRANT BOOST FOR CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN AVIATION MUSEUM Central Australian Aviation Museum has received a $15,000 Heritage Grant from the Northern Territory Government to help restore a Heron passenger aircraft once flown by pioneering local airline Connair. Lands, Planning and Environment Minister, Peter Chandler, met with museum staff and volunteers to inspect the aircraft that will receive the upgrade and tour the popular Alice Springs visitor spot. “Clearly the Heron needs a bit of work and I look forward to visiting again once they’re completed,” Mr Chandler said. “From its base in Central Australia Connellan Airways, which later became Connair, operated throughout the Territory from 1939 to 1980. “The Heron was operated between 1949 and 1963 by the German air force and used by the first Chancellor of Germany, Konrad Adenauer. “Connair acquired the aircraft in 1970 and it was used to fly between Alice Springs, Darwin, Mt Isa, Katherine, Kunnunurra, Cairns, Lord Howe Island, Ayers Rock and the Kimberleys. “It was sold in 1977 and subsequently operated out of Kiribati and Fiji before making its last flight in 1995. “The Heron was subsequently donated to the Central Australian Aviation Museum and transported to Alice Springs in 2012. “The Heritage grant will go towards reassembling and painting the aircraft as well as the costs associated with putting it on display in the Museum.” Mr Chandler said Heritage Grants totalling nearly $120,000 have been allocated to various Central Australian projects. “A grant of $40,000 had been awarded to the Alice Springs Youth Centre for restoration and improvements to Higgins Theatre, which was declared a heritage place in 2000,” he said. “The improvements will fit into a master plan for the Centre in line with the Country Liberals $2.5 million election commitment to upgrade the facility.” Other Central Australian projects that received grants include: • The Alice Springs Heritage Festival 2014 – $6000 • Chapman House electrical upgrade – $18,000 • Tempe Downs Homestead conservation work – $30,000, • 75 Hartley Street upgrades – $7500
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:31:40 +0000
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