Alpine Eagle Rolls Royce

In 1920 Col. H R Lloyd of St James Park, London, purchased the Alpine Eagle Rolls Royce, a four passenger open touring car, for £1575.  It was sold to Commander J Biddlecombe of Shelford, England who eventually shipped it to Australia.

It was to become a significant asset in the development of the pastoral and aviation industry in the NT.  

In 1939, Connellan, with the financial support of friend Damien Miller, purchased the car from Janet Biddlecombe for the sum of 100 pounds. He considered that the quality and strength of the Rolls Royce with its 7.5 litre engine would make it suitable to survey and clear a number of outback airstrips that he required for his growing airline, as well as do general station work.

After being serviced in Melbourne by Kellow Falkiner, Eddie Connellan’s brother, Vin, drove the vehicle to Alice Springs and by the late 1940’s the body had been replaced by a utility conversion which enabled bulky loads to be carried.

In 1948, Connellan used it to construct the airstrip and other amenities at the new tourist facility, Wildman River, in Arnhem Land, before converting into a safari wagon to transport tourists to the camp.
From 1943, Connellan used the Rolls to help establish his pastoral lease, Narwietooma, until, finally, it was of no further use and left to the elements.

In the 90s, Connellan’s son, Chris, salvaged the vehicle and had it beautifully restored by Dave Simpson of Alice Springs.  In 1997, it was driven again for the first time since 1954.

For the next 25 years or so it was on display in the foyer of the Alice Springs Airport until Airport management, needing more floor space, paid for its relocation costs ‘home’ to the Connellan Hangar at the Central Australian Aviation Museum where it is back on display.