Later VH-UIH. Destroyed by fire at Kelso, New South Wales on September 14, 1935. Photo from: State Library of Victoria

This wonderful photo was picked up for a mere $2 and shows VH-BRC on the Derwent River at Hobart. The Ansett Sandringhams operated direct from Sydney Harbour while landplanes routed via Melbourne. When competitors' started a same-plane DC-4 service from Sydney via Launceston it cut the flying boat's time advantage to a mere 20 minutes (in a four-hour flight) while greatly reducing costs.

Hobart's short-lived flying boat service offered direct flights to Sydney at a time when landplane services were via Melbourne. Photo from: Libraries Tasmania

Operated a network stretching from Hobart to Papua New Guinea. The Hobart terminus was the navy base HMAS Huon, now closed. VH-TOB sold in the US as N9946F in 1954. Remained on the US register until 2012, 54 years after its last flight. Now preserved.