Summary
Photograph of John Robertson Duigan seated at the controls of his biplane, taken during a public demonstration of the aircraft attended by 1,000 people at the Bendigo Racecourse, 3rd May 1911. The photograph was possibly taken by Jophn's brother Reginald Duigan or by a newspaper photographer.
Although French and American flying machines had already flown in Victoria, J.R. Duigan built and flew the first Australian-made flying machine in 1910.
This image taken at the Bendigo Racecourse on 3 May 1911, was published in the Bendigo Advertiser, 4 May 1911, and in the British aviation journal 'Flight' (London), 6th April 1912.
Description of Content
John Robertson Duigan seated at the controls of his biplane, built on the family property, 'Spring Plains', Mia Mia, near Heathcote, and first flown on July 1910. This was the first Australian-built aeroplane to fly although John Duigan believed his first true controlled flight took place on 7 October 1910.
Physical Description
Glass plate negative copy made from original print by Science Museum of Victoria, circa 1950s-1960s. Identical image to earlier print registered at MM 107190, but cropped slightly around edges.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Place & Date Depicted
Racecourse, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 03 May1911
Photographer unknown. -
Person Depicted
Mr John R. Duigan, Racecourse, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 03 May 1911
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Maker of Item Depicted
Mr John R. Duigan, 'Spring Plains', Mia Mia, Victoria, Australia, 1909-1910
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Individuals Identified
Duigan, John R.
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Format
Negative, Black & White
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Inscriptions
Text 'FLIGHT.' printed in bottom right-hand corner.
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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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Keywords
Aero Engines, Aeronautics, Aeroplanes, Aircraft, Aircraft Propellers, Aviation, Aviation Pioneers, Biplanes, Experimental Aircraft, Pilots
