Actually VH-EAS.

Was meant to become VH-CAT with the Department of Civil Aviation but registration not taken up. Planned sale in the UK in 1959 as G-APPP did not go ahead and VH-BMU remained in Australia. In 1964 it was sold to New Hebrides Airways (Vanuatu) as VQ-FAD. Reregistered VP-FAD in 1966 and crashed Tanna Island on October 21 that year. Photo from: State Library of Queensland

TAA is cited as the source of this photo and the year 1952. VH-DRE was delivered in April 1952 with variable-pitch de Havilland propellers. After three incidents of prop blades failing, one fatal, Drovers were grounded in September 1952. They were fitted fixed-pitch Fairey-Reed props, as seen in the photo, and new load charts were issued in December 1952 to allow operations to recommence. The photo location is not 100% certain but appears to be the eastern side of Mascot (now Sydney Kingsford Smith) airport near the TAA maintenance hangars.