Ayers Rock

Forum rules
  • A topic icon must be used with the thread title of all threads.
  • No more than 10 photos per post with a maximum of 50 in any one page in a thread.
  • Maximum photo width 1000 pixels.
  • For full photo rules and how to attach photos see viewtopic.php?f=10&t=28459
  • Thank you :)
Post Reply
Roderick Smith
Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 8:44 pm

Ayers Rock

Post by Roderick Smith »

This location has its own set of tourist-transport buses, and is a magnet for almost every charter operation in the nation, bringing school and other groups. I have kept the heading open ended.

770512Th Ayers Rock (NT): Red Sands Motel courtesy bus (Toyota Coaster?), behind a Connair DH Heron. (Roderick Smith)

Roderick
Attachments
770512Th-KA11a-AyersRock-RedSandsMotel-probToyotaCoaster-RSmith-sss.jpg
770512Th-KA11a-AyersRock-RedSandsMotel-probToyotaCoaster-RSmith-sss.jpg (192.43 KiB) Viewed 37589 times
Roderick Smith
Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 8:44 pm

Re: Ayers Rock in 1977

Post by Roderick Smith »

Thurs.12.5.77, Ayers Rock airstrip.
* Toyota Coaster, for local touring and/or motel transfers.
* Mystery: another Coaster? Something on a 4wd platform? Also for local touring and transfers.
* GM-Denning, probably single rear axle, and possibly pensioned off from interstate and charter work for local touring. It is labelled generically 'Holiday Tours'.

Edit: I have a suggestion from a different group that the middle one may be a Nissan Civilian.

Roderick
Attachments
770512Th-KA23-AyersRock-3buses-RSmith-ss.jpg
770512Th-KA23-AyersRock-3buses-RSmith-ss.jpg (207.93 KiB) Viewed 37375 times
Roderick Smith
Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 8:44 pm

Re: Ayers Rock in 1977

Post by Roderick Smith »

770512Th Ayers Rock (NT): Rain on the rock and on a Toyota Coaster parked at the airstrip terminal. (Roderick Smith)

Roderick
Attachments
770512Th-KA24-AyersRock-rain-bus-RSmith-sss.jpg
770512Th-KA24-AyersRock-rain-bus-RSmith-sss.jpg (203.92 KiB) Viewed 37296 times
User avatar
Bedford-29
Posts: 4942
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:31 pm

Re: Ayers Rock

Post by Bedford-29 »

Second picture the green mlni bus is a Toyota Coaster which has the same hump on the roof as the Toyota Coaster in this picture.Picture from Looselion
Attachments
REDLINE TOYOTA COASTER PIU-585
REDLINE TOYOTA COASTER PIU-585
Previoulsy known as United Diesel 15
User avatar
Looselion
Posts: 820
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:54 am
Favourite Vehicle: 3 1/2 window Flxible Clipper
Location: Queensland

Re: Ayers Rock

Post by Looselion »

Bedford-29 wrote:Second picture the green mlni bus is a Toyota Coaster which has the same hump on the roof as the Toyota Coaster in this picture.Picture from Looselion
Around 10 years earlier than the above photos, here's a group of Redline Dennings at the Rock's designated coach camping area....which was located right beside the Redline Motel compound.

And another coach at the old airstrip, with 'The Brain' in the background.

Re the Toyota Coaster Bedford 29, this was well spotted and is undoubtedly the same vehicle. This Coaster was unique for the reason that Redline converted it to 'Jet Air' forced air ventilation for use in Ayers Rock operations, based at the company's Redline Motel during the '60's. The roof 'hump' carried air from a moveable flap in the front to the internal nozzles fitted to the ceiling.

This wasn't the only small capacity unit in service at the Rock with Redline back then, being accompanied on airport transfer and local tours by a Ford Transit and an International converted to passenger configuration. I'll post a photo of each of these, and note the Transit also had the 'Jet Air' conversion treatment....!

That's Rex's wife Beris taking it easy beside the Inter....I'm guessing, but the location looks like the Devil's Marbles.
Attachments
Group of Redline units at Ayers Rock  1967.jpg
Group of Redline units at Ayers Rock 1967.jpg (127.63 KiB) Viewed 37158 times
Redline No 48 Ayres Rock 1965 (802 x 535).jpg
Redline No 48 Ayres Rock 1965 (802 x 535).jpg (59.76 KiB) Viewed 37158 times
Ford Transit (820 x 482).jpg
Ford Transit (820 x 482).jpg (83.41 KiB) Viewed 37158 times
International Mini Bus (820 x 458).jpg
International Mini Bus (820 x 458).jpg (87.69 KiB) Viewed 37158 times
Last edited by Looselion on Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Looselion
Posts: 820
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:54 am
Favourite Vehicle: 3 1/2 window Flxible Clipper
Location: Queensland

Re: Ayers Rock

Post by Looselion »

Roderick Smith wrote:This location has its own set of tourist-transport buses, and is a magnet for almost every charter operation in the nation, bringing school and other groups. I have kept the heading open ended.

770512Th Ayers Rock (NT): Red Sands Motel courtesy bus (Toyota Coaster?), behind a Connair DH Heron. (Roderick Smith)

Roderick
Just as a matter of interest, the Red Sands Motel, as identified on the side of the Coaster, was the last incarnation of the very first accommodation facility (ex military tents) established at Ayers Rock by Len Tuit. It was purchased by Reg Ansett in 1959, along with Tuit's other business interests, and operated for many years as the Ansett Pioneer Lodge. Each of the five historic tourist accommodation establishments was bulldozed by Federal Govt edict in mid 1984, with every last trace of their existence completely removed from the landscape, as if they had never existed.
User avatar
boronia
Posts: 21567
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 6:18 am
Favourite Vehicle: Ahrens Fox; GMC PD4107
Location: Sydney NSW

Re: Ayers Rock

Post by boronia »

There were a few 4WD conversions of Coasters back then.

The hump on the roof would be an aftermarket a/c installation. Definitely not a factory option in those days.
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
User avatar
Looselion
Posts: 820
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:54 am
Favourite Vehicle: 3 1/2 window Flxible Clipper
Location: Queensland

Re: Ayers Rock

Post by Looselion »

Here's a shot from earlier in the history of Ayers Rock tourism...
Redline's Watt Bros/Commer No 21 and Denning/Bedford No 22 (side on to camera) at the climb base in 1963. Note a few climbers doing it the hard way as the chain had not yet been installed.
This was the year Redline opened its first Ayers Rock accommodation facility, known as the Redline Chalet.
Attachments
No 21 & 22 - Base Ayres Rock Climb - Laurie MacBeth & Lenny Hill - 1963 (800 x 1200) (667 x 1000).jpg
Roderick Smith
Posts: 1321
Joined: Mon May 28, 2012 8:44 pm

Re: Ayers Rock

Post by Roderick Smith »

What wonderful extra material: history, scenery, vehicles.
Here is my fourth and final for the day, taken before the rain hit (I have posted out of sequence).

770512Th Ayers Rock - Olgas: Tourist Toyota Coaster pausing for a photostop. R Smith.

Roderick
Attachments
770512Th-KA16-AyersRock-Olgas-ToyotaCoaster-RSmith-sss.jpg
770512Th-KA16-AyersRock-Olgas-ToyotaCoaster-RSmith-sss.jpg (233.86 KiB) Viewed 36970 times
770512Th-KA16a-AyersRock-Olgas-ToyotaCoaster-RSmith-sss.jpg
770512Th-KA16a-AyersRock-Olgas-ToyotaCoaster-RSmith-sss.jpg (183.32 KiB) Viewed 36970 times
Post Reply

Return to “Photos - Darwin/NT”