As part of their world tour, the Apollo 11 Astronauts visited Sydney on Saturday 1st November 1969.
 |
|
The front cover of the Australian weekly news magazine,
The Bulletin – 8th November 1969.
With thanks to Mike Dinn. |
|
I took the black and white photos below. While the quality isn’t wonderful (and the astronauts are a long way away), they give an idea of the excitement of the day. The full-size photos (linked to the smaller images below) are quite large – up to 2825 x 1856 pixels. These scans show the film grain – but also a lot of the detail. If your browser doesn’t show the full width of the larger photos, just save them to your hard disk and open them with a graphics editing program. |
 |
|
A huge crowd greets the astronauts as their motorcade arrives at Hyde Park in central Sydney. (The astronauts are hidden behind the crowd on the left.) Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
Michael Collins is just visible above the crowd. Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
The astronauts are standing in their car at the centre of the picture. On the left is the special podium built for the day – and dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Sydney. The podium has been built on the northern side of the Archbiald Fountain, facing north. Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
The astronauts are welcomed. Aldrin (foreground), Armstrong and Collins (leaning forward) are seated. (See a high res scan of the podium here.) On the left is part of the Archibald Fountain. David Jones Elizabeth Street store can be seen at right, just above the loudspeakers. Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
After speeches in Hyde Park, the astronauts were driven to a Luncheon in the Ballroom of the Wentworth Hotel – organised by the Australian Government. Here the astronauts pass the Qantas building in Phillip Street. The Wentworth Hotel is the next building on the right (just out of frame). Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
The astronauts sweep past. Neil Armstrong facing the camera, Michael Collin on the right, Edwin Aldrin waving to the crowd. Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
The astronauts arrive outside the Wentworth Hotel. Photo: Colin Mackellar. Click image for a large version (note: 2825 x 1856 pixels!) |
Other photos taken that day
 |
|
This photograph was taken by a member of the public. With thanks to Glen Nagle of the Canberra Deep Space Communications Centre. Glen writes, “I believe the motorcade was heading along Elizabeth Street near Hyde Park.” |
 |
 |
|
Young and old alike gather to catch a glimpse of the history-making Moon Men. These two photographs – by an unidentified press photographer – really capture the excitement of the moment the Astronauts arrived. (Does anyone know who took them – or anyone in the photos? Please contact us.) With thanks to Glen Nagle of the Canberra Deep Space Communications Centre. |
The Astronauts depart Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith Airport on Sunday 2nd
November 1969.
 |
|
The Apollo 11 Astronauts wave at the top of the steps. Note the motorcycle escort at left. Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
 |
|
The astronauts’ aircraft departs Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith Airport on Sunday 2nd November 1969. Note the lines of police. On the large version, you can see a TV camera on a tripod on the left and airport workers on the far right. This Boeing VC-137B (a modified 707), tail number 86970, was the first jet aircraft to be called “Air Force One”. President Richard Nixon authorised its use for the Apollo 11 Astronauts’ goodwill world tour. The aircraft was used as Air Force One until 1972. Photo: Colin Mackellar. |
Coming: Scans of the menu for the Luncheon.