This letter, the first air mail letter sent to Warrnambool, was written by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir David Valentine Hennessy and carried by the aviator, Basil Watson on the first flight to Warrnambool January 24th 1917. The letter was delivered to the Mayor of Warrnambool, Cr Webb.There were several other letters delivered at the same time but this is the important official one. Basil Watson was a pioneer aviator who built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. Rotary Gnome engine. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. In Warrnambool Watson amazed the crowd with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Basil Watson died when he crashed his plane into the sea near Point Cook, just two months after he landed in Warrnambool. This letter is of the utmost significance being the first air mail letter delivered to Warrnambool. It is an important memento of the first aeroplane flight into Warrnambool by the pioneer aviator Basil Watson. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded in two to make four pages. It has handwriting in black ink on two pages. The writing is a little faded. The first page has the logo of the Melbourne Town Hall. The pages are partly torn at the folds. ‘Town Hall, Melbourne, 21/1/17. Lord Mayor’s Room, Dear Mr Mayor, I have much pleasure in sending you greetings by aeroplane piloted by my friend’s son, Mr Basil Watson. I hope when the cruel war is over and victory crowns our efforts, we all in the C’wealth will be able to fly from one state to the other. With best wishes for the New Year, …….. (signature indecipherable), D.V. Hennessy. His Worship the Mayor of Warrnambool.’pioneer aviation in the western district, basil watson, history of warrnambool

Postcard: man, wearing harness and flying cap, seated in cockpit of plane. Written on image ' M. Pegoud'Topical Postcard Co., Winton, Hants.aviation, civilian, m. pegoud

Postcard: black and white postcard, man dressed in suit with dustcoat, standing in front of biplane. On bottom ' B (?) Alcock.aviation, civilian, b. alcock, basil miller, alcock, biplane.

The postcard shows three planes flying above the Brooklands motor track with 'Brooklands Motor Track and Flying Ground'. To the right is a large two story brick building and on the left of the building is a long open covered vehicle stall. To the back are work sheds, further to the left are spectators cars and in the distance is open space with trees. Spectators line the race track both sides watching a racing car. In the foreground is a hill with fencing down to the track and spectators along the fence.Valentine Seriesaviation, civilian, brooklands motor track

Black and white postcard: image shows biplane flying low over hangars at Montrose Aerodrome. Written on bottom in white: ' Montrose Aerodrome Starting a Climb'Excelsior Seriesaviation, civilian, montrose aerodrome uk

black and white postcard. On top 'The Hill, Brooklands, Weybridge' Image shows racetrack, two cars - one on track, one outside fence line. Men standing on edge of track in foreground.Valentines's Seriesevent, sports, vehicle race track

black and white postcard: on bottom 'The Market Place Kingston-on-Thames' 2085. Image shows market stalls with flowers, buildings in background.place, streetscape, kingston-on-thames market

black and white postcard. Racing car upended in ditch, wheels in air. Potentially at Brooklands Raceway, Weybridge, although not marked as such.event, sports, car racing

black and white postcard. On bottom of card: 'Brooklands Motor Course, Weybridge, view from grandstand' 13855. Photo taken from rear of elevated seating, situated to view the track.Kingsway Real Photo Seriesevent, sports, brooklands motor course, weybridge, uk

black and white postcard, image shows streetscape, buildings with awnings, tramway on side of road. Written on bottom 'Clarence St Kingston 219' . Woman in long dress in distance, man in foreground.place, streetscape, clarence street, kingston, uk

Black and white postcard. On bottom of card: 'Brooklands Motor Course, Weybridge, finishing straight and club house' Image shows race track in centre of photo, men on LH side, covered truck on RH side.Kingsway Real Photo Seriesplace, sport, brooklands motor course

black and white postcard. On top of card ' Brooklands, View from Public Enclosure' Image taken from the perspective of the public enclosure. Two trees in foreground, people walking. Racetrack in background, pavilions visible.Valentine's Series, printed in Great Britainevent, sports, brooklands motor course, weybridge, uk

Black and white postcard. Image shows Brooklands race track, crowd of people and vehicles on side of track. Card coming down straight. On top of card ' "Brooklands - Finish of Race'.Valentine's Series

Black and white postcard. Image shows Brooklands race track in foreground, sloping walkway in mid-ground, men leaning on fence. On bottom of card ' Brooklands Motor Course, Weybridge, Grandstand, 13673'event, sports, brooklands motor course, weybridge, uk

Black and white postcard. On bottom of card: 'Brooklands Aerodrome 4' Image shows many cars on road surrounding aerodrome. Hangars visible in background. Large white tent in front of hangars. Major event underway evidenced by large amount of vehicles, people viewing the aerodrome.event, sports, brooklands aerodrome weybridge, uk

Black and white postcard. On top of card:' The Paddock, Brooklands' Image shows large amount of people, mainly men, standing in area near racetrack. Large pavilion in background.Valentine's Seriesevent, sports, brooklands racetrack, weybridge, uk

Black and white postcard. On bottom of card: ' 13954 Brooklands Motor Course, Weybridge, Canes Wood Cutting' Image shows race track, two cars competing.Kingsway Real Photo Seriesevent, sports, brooklands motor course, weybridge, uk

Black and white postcard. On bottom of card: ' Montrose Aerodrome A Trial Spin' Image shows biplane flying over series of hangars on side of aerodrome.Excelsior Seriesaviation, civilian, montrose aerodrome uk

Black and white postcard. Image shows two blade propellor, engine behind.machinery, engines - internal combustion, aeroplane propeller

Black and white postcard. On bottom of card: "An early morning flight. Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose' Image shows a bi-plane flying very low over the airfield, hangars in background.military, aviation, royal flying corps

Black and white postcard: On bottom of postcard : ' The End of a flight. Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose. Image shows bi-plane about to land on aerodrome, hangars in background on edge of airfield at Montrose.Davidson's Real Photographic Seriesmilitary, aviation, royal flying corps

Black and white postcard. On bottom of postcard :'Preparing for a start. Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose' Image shows 3 bi-planes in front of hangars, one biplane flying overhead.Davidson's Real Photographic Seriesmilitary, aviation, royal flying corps

Black and white postcard - Airship (Astra Torres) titled 'The Astra Torres Airship (Front View)' showing tethered airship on field with personnel, mainly in white uniform, possibly navy personnel. 'Our Aerial Defence Series'John Drew, Aldershot and Farnboroughmilitary, aviation, airship 'astra torres'

Black and white postcard . Written on top: 'The Astra Torres Airship' showing side view of tethered airship with personnel below. Airship is outside an airship hanger; aircraft hangers (Montrose base?) in background. 'Our Aerial Defence Series'John Drew, Aldershot & Farnboroughmilitary, aviation, airship 'astra torres'

Postcard - Montrose Aerodrome titled 'Montrose Aerodrome - a busy day' . Showing seven /eight ? Planes on field in front of hangars (three sheds) - one nearby plane has 332 on tailplane - further one is a 233? One plane with skids in front of landing wheels is in air above, this plane has number on tail but is unclear.Excelsior Seriesaviation, civilian, montrose aerodrome uk

Postcard - Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose titled 'At the sheds, Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose' Numbered 23 at bottom LH corner. Shows biplane with personnel parked in front of hangers (sheds) and one plane in air above.Davidson's Real Photographic Seriesmilitary, aviation, royal flying corps

Postcard - Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose titled 'A busy morning - Royal Flying Corps Base, Montrose' Numbered 322 in bottom LH corner. Showing five/six planes on field in front of five hangers, some with open doors. Two bi-planes shown in air above.Davidson's Real Photographic Seriesmilitary, aviation, royal flying corps

Postcard - Royal Flying Corps, Montrose. Titled 'Royal Flying Corps biplane circling Montrose steeple'. Image shows biplane directly above Montrose church, people on sidewalk looking up. Statue of male on extreme RH side.Excelsior Seriesmilitary, aviation, royal flying corps