An impressive collection of aeroplanes sits locked in a hangar beside an airstrip in the remote outback town of Rolleston, three and a half hours drive south-west of Rockhampton.

With World War II training aircraft and the first all-metal plane to ever fly into Australia, this unique garage is filled with history.

Proud owner Ross Smith said his passion for planes had been inspired by his father, who was in the Royal Air Force.

After being taken for his first ride at 16 years old, he said he had never looked back.

"The following weekend I was at Bundaberg learning to fly," Mr Smith said.

His interest in restoring old planes came later, when he bought his first Tiger Moth in about 1986.

"I thought I'd love to have a Tiger Moth and I went looking for one, and finally found one in pieces in Victoria and started restoring it," he said.

"And it just sort of grew from that."

Ross Smith's passion for aircraft began after his first aeroplane ride with his father when he was 16 years old. ( ABC: Amy McCosker )

A little bit of World War II history brought back to life

Since then, Mr Smith has restored numerous aircraft, including two World War II air force training planes — a 1947 Tiger Moth and a 1941 Boeing Stearman Kaydet — both parked in his Rolleston hangar today.

"The Tiger Moth was the Commonwealth air force training aeroplane," Mr Smith said.

"The other one is a PT17 Boeing Stearman Kaydet and it was the American, and to a certain extent Canadian, basic trainer.

"[It] did the same job for the American forces as the Tiger Moth did for Australia."

Despite having brought these pieces of military aviation history back to life, Mr Smith said his most notable achievement was actually an old passenger aeroplane.

The Lockheed: an almost-impossible project

"The apex of the whole thing was the Lockheed here," he said, pointing to a large silver plane parked in the middle of the hangar.

Christened Silver City, the Lockheed Electra Junior was the first all-metal aeroplane to fly into the country, and one of only about 10 still flying in the world today.

"It's the smaller sister to the one Amelia Earhart disappeared in, but it has the same engine so it makes it a very good performance aeroplane, cruising aeroplane," Mr Smith said.

"[It] carries six passengers, or this particular one carries seven passengers and two crew."

Originally purchased by Zinc Corporation and BHP, the Silver City became the first aircraft for flying their staff around, revolutionising travel and communication for the major corporations.

In the early 1940s the Commonwealth Government started borrowing the Lockheed to fly their chief of air staff, governor general and MPs around the country, including former prime minister Bob Menzies.

"It was never [pressed into service] during World War II, which just about every other aircraft in Australia was, because it was deemed too important carrying the notables around the country," Mr Smith said.

The Lockheed in Mr Smith's workshop is one of only 10 in the world still flying. ( ABC: Amy McCosker )

A lengthy process to perfection

Mr Smith said seven weeks of full-time work had gone into getting the Lockheed airworthy.

A fairly lengthy process, he admitted it had looked like an impossible project to complete at the start.

Mr Smith said, when restoring a plane it's important to follow a plan from the start, as every component has to meet specific requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority..

"But once you start on it, I guess as long as you try to be as perfect as you can with it, it should put itself together," Mr Smith said.

"That's what I find, I find it just leads me to the next thing, and that's probably why I enjoy doing it, to see the end result."

Mr Smith said despite the money, hard work and countless hours that went into restoring each plane, he got immense satisfaction from having achieved something to perfection.

"Strictly speaking, I don't get as much satisfaction out of flying them, as seeing very capable pilot friends of mine flying them," he said.

"When I can sit there and listen and watch and see that thing from the ground, it really gives me a kick."

Ross Smith stands next to a restored plane in his Rolleston workshop. ( ABC: Amy McCosker )

A hobby that opened up the world

With his work as an earthmoving contractor and cattle runner taking up more and more time, Mr Smith said his days of restoring old planes were coming to an end.

Reflecting on his incredible collection, the adventures they had taken him on and the friends he had made along the way, Mr Smith said he was ready now to sit back and enjoy his accomplishments.

"Flying has opened what I'd call the world to me," he said.

"I've always had a bent for looking over that next hill. Right from a kid, I wanted to see what was over that hill.

"Well, I think I've seen over a lot of them now."