Ross Smith Anniversary - Enfield Heritage Museum Sunnybrae Farm: Keith learns of the history of these pioneers of the air, in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
Way back in 1919 Adelaide born brothers Ross and Keith Smith flew themselves and Australia into the history books when they became the first to fly from England to Australia in under thirty days.
Ross and Keith and their mechanics, Wally Shiers and Jim Bennett, were chasing a very attractive prize - ?10,000 posted by the Australian Government.
They made it in record time of 27 days 20 hours at an average speed of 140 KPH and Ross proudly claimed the winner's cheque and his place in aviation history. His statue stands proudly in the Creswell Gardens outside the main gates of Adelaide Oval but there are signs of his achievements are scattered across Adelaide.
In the car park at the Adelaide Airport you'll find the very plane that made the epic journey. With its distinctive call-sign of G-E-A-O-U - 'God 'elp all of us', it made big news when it touched down in Darwin. Their Vickers Vimy bomber had a deafening engine and open cockpits. They didn't even have a radio on board (radios were too heavy then) still they made it to Australia and conquered the tyranny of distance…
The historic Vickers Vimy is on the move again with plans to relocate it to a more prominent position appropriately closer to the new terminal. But the plane is only part of this amazing story. For the rest, pay a visit to the Enfield Heritage Museum at Sunnybrae Farm at Regency Park.
History buffs, like Dennis Robinson will tell you about the barn-storming flight and why it earned Ross and Keith a Knighthood. They'll also show you a rare film about the race by pioneer cameraman, Frank Hurley. It includes the tumultuous scenes of their arrival in Darwin and cheque presentation by Prime Minster Billy Hughes.
We find another link with the Smith brothers in newer suburb of Northgate. A green playing field on Navigator Drive is called Vickers Vimy Reserve - in memory of their return to Adelaide. The hero's welcome they received in Darwin was repeated when they touched down at the Northfield Aerodrome on the 23rd of March 1920 - 90 year ago.
Where the kids now play cricket and soccer, a plaque marks the spot close to where the Smith Brothers touched down to a huge crowd of hometown fans.
Dennis Robinson, Enfield Heritage Museum: "Ninety years ago the plane came in from over the hills and there were over 20,000 people here. Mother, father, kids - they were all here. People were selling sugar bags for sixpence each to put over the horses heads to stop them taking fright at the noise of the plane."
It was an amazing scene as locals flocked to the Aerodrome to congratulate their home grown aviation pioneers. It was the first time Mrs Smith had seen her sons for more than 5 years. And the anniversary is on Tuesday March 23 - the 90th anniversary of when the two Adelaide boys, Ross and Keith Smith finally made it home. They had made aviation history.
There's a Smith Brothers Walking Trail at the Adelaide airport which will taker you to the famous Vickers Vimy hanger and the Enfield Heritage Museum is part of Sunnybrae Farm at Regency park. It's open Saturdays 10am until 4pm. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Enfield Heritage Museum
Sunnybrae Farm
Gallipoli Grove
Regency Park
Open Sat 10-4Published 21st March 2010
