On Monday 5 February 1934,
Adastra Airways
started an airmail service between Bega and Sydney.
Mail was carried in both directions on the first day.
The plane was a DH Fox Moth and the pilot was F W Follett.
Only 260 letters were flown on the 428 km north from Bega to Sydney on the first flight and Walker [1] states that he was not aware of any addressed to New Zealand. This is an example!
It is postmarked at Bega on 5 February and backstamped Air Mail Sydney later that day. The first service left Mascot Airport at 8.30am and arrived in Bega at 11.15. This cover was flown on the return flight which left Bega at 2pm and arrived in Sydney at 4.15pm. It would then have completed its journey to New Zealand by sea.
Two planes were used on each of the first flights: a De Havilland Fox Moth
and a Gypsy Moth.
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All scans were made by the author.
Information on this page is taken from:
[1] Airmails of New Zealand, volume 2 (1986) compiled by
Douglas A Walker, published by the
Air Mail Society of New Zealand