Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh KBE, DFC

Readers note: This is an excerpt from the 200 Treasures exhibition catalogue, developed in 2017. This content was written as a brief biography on why this person was included in the exhibition.

Wilmot Hudson Fysh was a pioneer of Australian aviation.

He was born in Tasmania in 1895 and educated at local schools as well as Geelong Grammar. With the outbreak of World War I, Fysh enlisted and served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine before transferring to the Australian Flying Corps as an observer. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross and graduated as a scout pilot in 1919.

After the war, Fysh was drawn to the outback and the development of civilian air services and, in 1920, along with three Queensland graziers, he formed the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd (Qantas), which was headquartered in Winton, and then Longreach, Queensland. With two planes, the service included ambulance missions, joy riding and stock inspections.

In 1922, Qantas commenced a passenger service between Charleville and Cloncurry in Queensland. Government mail subsidies proved invaluable in ensuring the early viability of the company. Fysh became managing director in 1923, and although increasingly focused on business operations, continued to pilot planes until 1930. Under his management, Qantas established flying schools and aircraft construction and expanded its passenger services.

In 1927, Fysh worked with Reverend John Flynn to found an aerial ambulance service, later known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As air travel expanded, Qantas grew to become an international carrier. Qantas Empire Airlines (QEA) was formed in 1934 in partnership with Imperial Airways, and in 1947, the Australian government acquired Qantas. Throughout, Fysh remained managing director. In retirement, Fysh, who was knighted in 1953, wrote numerous books including histories of Qantas.