Australia

Australia, once known as New Holland (1644-1850s) after the Dutch seafarer Abel Tasman who discovered the island, is a country of ancient indigenous history. Like its neighbour New Zealand, it was claimed by European explorers to form new colonies and empires.

Qantas Airways, the flag carrier of Australia and the largest airline in the world by fleet size, was founded in 1920 - its name an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. It was, for many years, the sole carrier for Australian air travel.

▲
Super service at your command (1950s)
This poster was launched in the mid-1950s in collaboration with British airline BOAC and Tasman Empire Airways. Air travel was expensive and often reserved for the affluent classes.

▲
BOAC Qantas (1950s)
Another BOAC Qantas poster by F. Nanninga advertising travel to Australia exclusively to British holidaymakers, with the promise of warm, sunny shores.

▲
Great Barrier Reef (1935)
An early example of modernist graphic design, this poster by Gert Sellheim for the Australian National Travel Association depicts a simplistic arrangement of the unique natural environment of the Great Barrier Reef.

▲
Sail Matson (1931)
Before the convenience of air travel, the journey to the tropical shores of Australia was a lengthy voyage for travellers. The journey from Britain to the western coast of Australia could take up to eight weeks by steam-powered ocean liner. Matson Lines "White Fleet" consisted of four luxury ocean liners; SS Mariposa, SS Monterey, SS Malolo and SS Lurline.

New Zealand

Beyond Australia lies New Zealand, worlds away in distance but similar weather! Inhabited by Maori people since about 1200, the islands were first visited by Europeans in 1642. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman had a perilous encounter with local people and so the Europeans didn't visit again until Captain Cook's voyage in 1769.

▲
Get in the queue for Queenstown (c1950)
This was an advertisement for New Zealanders to visit Queenstown by rail. Queenstown is a resort town sitting on the shores of Lake Wakatipu on the South Island.

▲
Haere Mai (Welcome) (1920)
Depicting a traditional Maori woman cooking food in a boiling pool with another woman and baby, this poster uses the Maori language to welcome travellers to New Zealand.

▲
Map of attractions (1950s)
Although this poster looks rather modern, the forward-thinking government commissioned this poster in the 1950s. It features some of New Zealand's most prominent tourist attractions, mostly natural landmarks.

Got questions? Read our frequently asked questions.

Want to know more? Request a brochure using the form below or contact our team.

Cover image: The Tallest Trees in the British Empire (1930)

Ben Tully

Visual Design & Content Creation

Ben deals with all things design, working on the visual design of our annual guides, Destinations magazine, information leaflets, social media and email campaigns, and much more across the Alan Rogers, Rallies and Worldwide brands. He also produces written content for our blogs alongside our other contributors.

More by Ben Tully