Australian National Airways History: The Holyman Airline – Airline Employee Shop

Australian National Airways History

Australian National Airways was the Holyman family's privately owned airline, linking Australia's capital cities from 1936 until it became part of Ansett in 1957. Here's a short history of Australian National Airways (ANA), plus the Australian National Airways collection that celebrates it.

Tasmanian roots (1932-1935)

The story began in Tasmania. Victor Holyman started flights from Launceston to Flinders Island in 1932, and the business grew into Holyman's Airways, headed by his brother Ivan Holyman. A mail service to the mainland began on 1 October 1934. That same month Victor Holyman and ten others were lost when the de Havilland DH.86 Miss Hobart went missing over Bass Strait.

Forming ANA (1936-1939)

Ivan Holyman approached the Adelaide Steamship Company, owner of Adelaide Airways, about joining forces. Australian National Airways was registered in Melbourne on 13 May 1936 and began operating on 1 July 1936. Holyman brought the first Douglas DC-2 to Australia in 1936. DC-2 Bungana entered service on 18 May 1936, and Loongana opened Melbourne to Perth flights on 21 December 1936. ANA gained control of Airlines of Australia in April 1937. On 25 October 1938, DC-2 Kyeema crashed into Mount Dandenong, killing all 18 people aboard.

War and a new rival (1939-1956)

When Australia entered World War II, the government requisitioned ANA's four DC-3s, and the airline gave major support to the armed services. After the war the Chifley government moved to nationalise the airline, but ANA won in court. The government created Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) instead, and it began flying in 1946. ANA flew DC-4s from 1946 and later chose the pressurised DC-6B. The Two Airline Agreement of 1952 kept ANA and TAA as the two carriers on inter-capital routes.

The Ansett sale (1957)

Ivan Holyman died in January 1957 while on holiday in Honolulu. On 3 October 1957 ANA was sold to Ansett Transport Industries for 3.3 million pounds. The airlines merged as Ansett-ANA on 21 October 1957, a name kept until 1 November 1968.

A few things collectors love

  • Many ANA aircraft carried names ending in "-ana", such as Bungana, Loongana and Kurana.
  • After the sale, the ANA name lived on for 11 more years as Ansett-ANA.
  • This ANA is not related to All Nippon Airways, which also uses the ANA initials. See our All Nippon Airways history for that airline.

Shop Australian National Airways

Browse Australian National Airways logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Australian National Airways collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for a gift any Australian National Airways fan will enjoy.

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