Connellan's station life continued when the family moved to the Riverina district of New South Wales.

[1][3] Perceiving business opportunities in the Northern Territory, in October 1937 Connellan prepared a report, "Notes on proposals for Aerial Freight Transport in Australia", with the aim of assisting the development of remote regions of northern Australia.

[3] During the survey he met the Federal Minister responsible for the Northern Territory, John McEwen, and discussed the role of air services in the region.

Connellan agreed to a three-year trial of an air mail service between Alice Springs and Wyndham in Western Australia, which attracted a subsidy from the federal government.

Connellan also negotiated a contract to provide an Alice Springs-based Royal Flying Doctor Service.

[1] It was established by a deed of trust dated 12 June 1981 and officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony on 11 February 1983 at the Central Australian Aviation Museum.

In 1957 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honours List, "for services to civil aviation in Northern and Central Australia".