The Anson Museum at the Ballarat Airport is celebrating the glory days of aviation in a new exhibition called ‘The Early Flights of Ballarat’.
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Museum curator Alan Penhall said a model of the first aircraft to grace Ballarat’s skies was one of the highlights of the new exhibition and had been constructed by volunteer Dave Lacy.
Aviator Arthur ‘Wizard’ Stone brought his Blériot XI to the region in an historic tour, which saw a demonstration flight at the Redan Racecourse on Wednesday, October 16, 1912 before what was supposed to be the main event at City Oval the following Saturday.
Mr Penhall said in front of a large crowd things didn’t quite go according to plan.
“Under contract of the South Street Society to appear at their Highland pipe band contest at City Oval, the aircraft was trucked in and assembled at the west end goal posts,” he said.
“He attempted to fly from the small area comprising the oval, surrounded by trees and nearly made it, but lost height, grazed one tree, struck another and collided with telephone lines. The aircraft finished turned upside down causing him to fall out.
“He was taken by cab to hospital where he was found to have a broken collarbone and slight concussion – a lucky man indeed.”
Mr Penhall said it was important to acknowledge Ballarat’s aviation past, given Stone’s flight was one of the earliest in Australian history.
“(Harry) Houdini was the first flight in Australia at Diggers Rest in 1910,” he said.
“Then there was another aviator called (John) Duigan in Bendigo and Stone was then the first flight in Ballarat and that was about the third or fourth flight in Australia.
“Ballarat has a very rich history of flying so this is what we are trying to celebrate and educate with the display.”
Mr Penhall said the next aim of the museum was to get recognition placed at the location of Stone’s misguided flight.
“We would have liked a plaque from the Ballarat City Council to be put outside the City Oval near the crash site to mark the occasion,” he said.
“It is part of the history of Ballarat, we think it should be recognised. Ballarat is not just gold rush and Sovereign Hill, it is famous for flights and armys and many other things.”
The Anson Museum at the Ballarat Airport has a range of impressive displays and is open on Saturdays and Sundays between 1-5pm.
