There is no physical container for this geocache - it is a Virtual Cache. To log a find, you must visit the published coordinates and answer some questions related to what you find there.
Tucked away here in a corner of Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal 3 is a permanent exhibit, the "Heritage Collection" of Australia's national airline. Admission is free and open to the public Monday to Friday between 0930 and 1630 hours, closed on public holidays.
Opened in September 2005, the Heritage Collection features a priceless array of artefacts and memorabilia curated by volunteers since the early 1990s. This diverse range of items has been donated by passengers and airline staff, and the Collection continues to welcome the donation of suitable items. The exhibition covers an area of 1,000 square metres, flanked by large windows with superb panoramic views of Sydney airport, offering a spectacular background of landing and departing aircraft.
In an educational and graphic manner, the Collection traces the story of Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, now Australia's national airline, from its birth in 1920 to the global group which today operates a range of flying businesses and a diverse portfolio of airline-related commercial enterprises.
The Heritage Collection enables visitors to follow the airline's story through a series of interconnected exhibition spaces, including:
- Finely crafted models titled 'Da Vinci to Sputnik', depicting significant global developments in the history of flight, including the role of pioneer Australian inventor, Lawrence Hargrave.
- Photographic overview of highlights of each decade since 1920, depicted on a series of colourful hanging banners.
- A nostalgic look at some air crew uniforms over the years.
- Timetables, tickets, menus, advertising posters, old copies of the airline's employee newspaper, photographs of celebrity passengers and various other archival documents.
- Theatrette showing DVDs of the airline's past and also future developments.
- An assortment of historical objects, including navigational equipment, early model aircraft and assorted memorabilia.
- Engines used on the airline's aircraft in outback Australia in the 1920s.
- Wicker chairs used in the open cockpit for pilot and passengers on early flights.
For more information, visit the Heritage Collection website.
How to get to GZ:
Admission is free and open to the public Monday to Friday between 0930 and 1630 hours, closed on public holidays. However, be aware that this is not a "park and grab" cache. It is located inside Sydney Airport Domestic Terminal 3. If you park at the airport you will have to pay a parking fee, but you can also reach the airport via various public transport options. You do not have to be a passenger to enter the terminal building, but you will have to proceed through security to access the exhibit. This may take some time depending on how busy the airport is, and as usual there are restrictions on what you can carry with you when you enter an airport terminal. Once inside, proceed to Gate 13 where you will see signs to the Heritage Collection. You can take stairs or a lift to the entrance of the exhibition. Once you have finished exploring, simply follow the signs to exit the terminal.
To claim a find on this cache:
Visit the Heritage Collection at GZ and have a look around. Please email or message me your answers to the following questions:
- Find the exhibit of an aircraft wheel and tyre which has been cut open to show a cross-section. According to the information plaque, what is the speed rating of this tyre?
- Find the room containing the historic flight crew uniforms. Three of the uniforms have name badges on them. What is the name of the crew member whose badge indicates he is a "Flight Services Director"?
- There are several glass-fronted box displays mounted in the back wall. Find the one with a model of VH-ABG "Coriolanus", a flying boat. What are the names on the other 3 name plaques in this display?
- Optional but appreciated: post a photo, with or without yourself or your geo-crew or geo-equipment in it, showing some interesting part of the impressive view from the main windows overlooking the airport from the exhibit area.
You may post your Found log immediately without waiting for my response. I understand that you may be travelling and unable to send your answers immediately. Please don't post answers to the questions above in your log or photos.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
Congrats on a joint FTF to goingplaces2, AussiePam and ilook4geo!