Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach

The Qantas Founders Museum is one of outback Queensland's signature attractions. It sits beside Longreach Airport, next to the original hangar where the young airline once built aircraft. This guide covers its history, what you can see, and how to plan a visit. For other Longreach attractions see our Longreach heritage guide and the Longreach town guide.

How Qantas began in the outback

Qantas — originally Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services — was founded by Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness, two former Australian Flying Corps airmen, with backing from grazier Fergus McMaster and others. The company was founded in Winton and registered in Brisbane in November 1920; its first board meeting was held at the Winton Club in early 1921 (commonly dated to February 1921), and it moved its headquarters to Longreach later in 1921. Its early work included joy flights, charters and, from 1922, scheduled airmail services connecting western Queensland towns at a time when travel by road could take days.

In Longreach, the company built a hangar where it assembled de Havilland DH.50 aircraft under licence in the 1920s — among the first aircraft built in Australia. In 1930 the head office moved to Brisbane, and the airline grew into Australia's international carrier. The early link with the Royal Flying Doctor Service is another part of the story: Qantas supplied the aircraft for the first flying doctor flight in 1928, from Cloncurry.

What you can see

• The heritage hangar. The original Qantas hangar at Longreach is heritage-listed. Inside are replica aircraft from the airline's early years and displays explaining how they were built and flown.
• The museum. Galleries trace the airline's history from the outback to international routes, with artefacts, uniforms, films and interactive exhibits.
• The jets. Retired airliners are on display outside under a large shade structure, including a Boeing 747 and a Boeing 707. Guided tours take you inside, and optional experiences have included a walk on the 747's wing and tours of its cockpit and systems.
• Evening and seasonal experiences. Light and sound shows and dinner experiences have been offered in some seasons; check what is running when you visit.

Exhibits, tours and prices change, so confirm details on the official museum website before you go. We do not list prices here.

Planning your visit

• When: April to September is peak season, with pleasant days and full tour schedules. Summer is hot; visit early and use the indoor galleries in the heat of the day.
• Book ahead: aircraft tours have limited numbers and can sell out in winter school holidays.
• Combine it: the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame is on the other side of town, and a Thomson River sunset cruise makes a good end to the day. Winton, where Qantas was founded and held its first board meeting, is about 180 km north-west.
• Accessibility: the museum has accessible areas, but aircraft tours involve stairs; contact the museum about your needs.

Getting to Longreach

Longreach Airport has scheduled flights from Brisbane, and Queensland Rail's Spirit of the Outback runs from Brisbane via Rockhampton. By road, Longreach is on the Landsborough and Capricorn highways, about 1,170 km from Brisbane.

The Qantas story in context

The founding of Qantas is closely tied to the outback's need for transport and communications. In the early 1920s, western Queensland had few roads, and rail connections were slow. Aviation promised to bring mail, passengers and goods to remote towns in hours rather than days. The airline's early services linked towns such as Charleville, Longreach, Winton and Cloncurry, and pioneered routes that later became part of the national air network. The museum tells this story through the people who made it happen — pilots, engineers, ground staff and the communities that supported them.

Founders and early aircraft

The museum tells the stories of founders Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness and Fergus McMaster, and of early aircraft including the Avro 504K and the de Havilland DH.50. Displays explain how aircraft were maintained and repaired at remote landing grounds, often with limited tools and spare parts. Exhibits also cover Qantas's later history, including flying boat services and the jet age.

Tips for photography

The jets outside are best photographed in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is softer. Inside the hangar and museum, flash photography may be restricted in some areas; check signs and follow staff directions.

Other aviation heritage

Aviation enthusiasts can follow Qantas's history to Winton, where the company's first board meeting was held at the Winton Club, and to Cloncurry, where the first Royal Flying Doctor Service flight took off in 1928. See The Royal Flying Doctor Service and our Longreach heritage guide.

Families and school groups

The museum is popular with families, and its interactive displays and aircraft tours appeal to children. Check minimum age or height requirements for wing walks and some tours, and allow time for breaks in the shade or the café. School groups and tour groups usually book in advance, so visiting early in the day can be quieter in peak season.

Practical information

• Location: Longreach Airport, Queensland.
• Allow: half a day or more.
• Official site: qfom.com.au.

Further reading

• Winton
• Cloncurry