Summary
Part of a commemorative photograph album produced by Sears' Studios, Melbourne, documenting the work of Basil Watson in constructing a biplane at his family's home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick, Victoria, during 1916, and the aftermath of his fatal crash off Point Cook on 28th March 1917. The biplane was based on the design of the Sopwith Pup, which Watson was familiar with from his time working as an engineer and test pilot with the Sopwith Aviation Co. and Imperial Army in Britain, during 1914-1916. Watson piloted the plane on pioneering flights to Bendigo and western Victoria. He performed many public acrobatic flying demonstrations and flew the first official airmail between Mt Gambier and Melbourne in February 1917. He was killed when a component of his aircraft failed during an aerobatic demonstration over Point Cook, Victoria, on 28th March 1917, causing the wings to collapse, plunging the aircraft into Port Phillip Bay. His death was the earliest recorded aviation fatality in Australia. His death deeply affected the Watson family, who continued to publish tribute notices in Melbourne's daily newspapers on each anniversary for over a decade.
Description of Content
Side on portrait of Basil Waton seated in the cockpit of his partially completed biplane fuselage in the billiard room of the Watson family home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick, Victoria. Watson is gazing straight ahead (to the right) over the top of the fuel tank which will supply benzine for the Gnome rotary engine he is planning to fit to the plane. His feet are resting on the rudder pedal and his left hand it gripped around the joystick, while is right hand is holding a vertical member of the timber fuselage frame. The fuselage is still an open frame, yet to be covered with its fabric and metal skin. In the background the wall is covered in dark wallpaper with an embossed 'fleur de lis' style pattern reflecting the popular architectural and home decorating style of the early 1910s.
Physical Description
Vertical portrait format rectangular gelatin silver emulsion photographic print, glued to a rectangular landscape format brown cardridge paper page, without caption.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Transport, Home & Community, Images & Image Making, Public Life & Institutions
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Creator
Sears Studio, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1916
It is not clear whether Sears took all of the original negatives but they appear to have at least printed the photographs in a standard format and mounted them in the commemorative album. -
Person Depicted
Mr Basil G. Watson, Elsternwick, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1916
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Place & Date Depicted
'Foilacleugh', St Kilda Street, Elsternwick, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1916
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Format
Photograph, 6" x 8", Black & White
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
156 mm (Width), 208 mm (Height)
Vertical portrait format. Dimensions including 3 mm white border.
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Keywords
Aviation, Aviation Pioneers, Aircraft, Aircraft Manufacture, Biplanes, Fuel Tanks, Fuselages, Homes, House Interiors, Portraits, Wallpaper
