NRS-9777 | Aerial photography prints, Adelaide River to Birdum [Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales]

Full description

This series consists of photographs produced from aerial film surveys conducted during 1941 in the Northern Territory.

The aerial surveys were commissioned by the Department of Main Roads (DMR) during World War II on the request of the Commonwealth Government, who wanted to ensure that the transport infrastructure in the Northern Territory could support the needs of the military forces of Australia and the United States of America, particularly during the wet season.(1)

The surveys were conducted by Adastra Airways Pty Ltd as part of the DMR’s investigations into the upgrade of the North-South road between Adelaide River and Birdum (later known as the Stuart Highway).  On 4 June 1941, Adastra Airways signed a contract with the DMR agreeing to conduct an aerial survey of an area of about 600 square miles for the sum of 2075 pounds, plus 275 pounds for each trip from Sydney. Basing themselves in Katherine, Adastra Airways commenced the aerial surveys on 16 June 1941 and completed them on 7 July 1941.(2)

There are two sets of photographs in the series. One is a complete set, and the other is a duplicate but incomplete set.

The photographs are in the form of black and white prints and are arranged in order by run number ranging from AS1-AS38. Typically there is a 60 percent overlap of image between prints enabling the terrain to be viewed in three dimensions with the use of stereoscopic equipment.

An index to the photos is available.(3)

Endnote
1. Engineers Australia Northern Division. Challenging terrain no match for engineering ingenuity, p. 6, https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/Stuart_Highway.pdf (accessed 12 June 2015); Engineers Australia Northern Division. Nomination for historic engineering plaque for Stuart Highway North, pp. 10-11, http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/stuart_highway_nom1.pdf (accessed 12 June 2015); NRS 9771, [10/27336], file 41m808.
2. NRS 9771, [10/27336], file 41m808 and [10/27335] file 41m524.
3. NRS 18259/2/1.