Redland Zone — Did You Know? 28 July 2026

Redland Bay was once Brisbane's international airport — and the runway was Moreton Bay.

The base

From 1953 to 1971, Redland Bay hosted a flying boat base used by Qantas and Ansett to fly passengers to Sydney and out to the South Pacific. At its peak, around 1,000 flights a year were landing on the water at the end of Banana Street.

The base opened on 3 June 1953, when an Ansett Sandringham called Beachcomber landed from Sydney. Three days later a Qantas flying boat arrived from Port Moresby — making Redland Bay, for a few short years, the international gateway to Brisbane.

A beer while you wait

Passengers waiting to transfer could grab a meal and a beer at the Redland Bay Hotel, which doubled as Qantas's booking office for the first two years.

The numbers

  • Busiest month: July 1953, with 105 commercial flying boat movements
  • Last flight: an Ansett Sandringham to Sydney, 25 October 1971

Where it was

The old jetty at the end of Banana Street is right near where the Bay Island ferry terminal sits today. Next time you're catching the ferry to Straddie, you're standing on what was once Brisbane's international airport. 🛫