The Birth of Australian Aviation

The story of the development of a Australian aviation industry is a story of barnstorming and risk-taking pioneers. Their gambles and the roller-coaster ride of early aviation in Australia is a fascinating story. It is especially prevalent for the Mascot area, where a early aviators created a runway that is now the busiest airport in Australia.

Dorothy and an unidentified woman in front of Canberra, a De Havilland DH61 Giant Moth biplane VH-UHW with Leslie Holden in cockpit, Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney, New South Wales, ca. 1930

Attempts to develop an aircraft building industry in Australia were hampered by lack of government interest and private financial support.

In a paddock he bought at Mascot, Nigel Love began assembling Avro aircraft under licence from A V Roe @ Company Ltd of Manchester. While his company struggled, the airfield he constructed to test his craft survived to become the oldest continuously operated commercial airport in the world. It was renamed in honour of one of Australia’s greatest airmen, Charles Kingsford Smith, in 1953. The first passenger service to Melbourne left Mascot in April 1920 carrying one passenger on a flight which took nine hours of flying time over several days.

Aviation in Australia ; from the barnstorming pioneers to the airlines of today. Jill Bee. 2007 Exisle Publishing Limited.

Do you have any memories or stories about the Sydney airport or Australian aviation? Please share your comments below.