Chairman
Arthur William Coles (later Sir Arthur Coles) was appointed Chairman of the Australian National Airlines Commission (ANAC) on 8 February 1946. A highly respected businessman, philanthropist and former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Coles brought a rare combination of commercial expertise and public‑service commitment to the role.
Coles was TAA's first employee and worked with the company for 4 years until he resigned as Chairman in 1950.
Trans-Australia Airlines
In early April 1946, just two months after its formation, the Commission informed the Government that its preferred trading name was “Trans‑Australia Airlines”. The name reflected the airline’s national mission: to connect Australians across the continent with safe, modern and affordable air travel.
Treasury granted a preliminary advance of £10,000, enabling the Commission to begin recruiting staff, securing office space, and purchasing essential equipment. This modest initial funding would soon grow into one of the most ambitious aviation projects in Australian history.
In March 1946, Reginald Ansett — proprietor of the small Victorian airline Ansett Airways — wrote to Coles proposing that ANAC purchase his entire operation as a ready‑made foundation for the new national airline. He also offered his services as managing agent. The asking price of £102,476 was considered excessive, and Ansett declined the Commission’s counter‑offer.
These letters, preserved in the TAA Museum collection, provide a fascinating insight into the early manoeuvring that shaped Australia’s post‑war aviation landscape.
