Newspaper cuttings of 50th anniversary flight of the re-enactment of the first South Australia Victoria air mail. Item enclosed in small envelope. Re-enactment done by Douglas Watson, a nephew of the pioneer airman, Basil Watson.. a. Bendigo Advertiser, 24th Feb. 1967; b. The Age 28th Feb, 1967. (in an envelope marked ''Re Basil Watson'' - newspaper and date written in biro.) person, individual, basil watson

Black and white photograph of Basil Watson's funeral procession showing horse drawn hearse and following carriages. Inscription on back: ''Taken at East Melbourne 1919 en route to Brighton Cemetery. Photo taken by Ivy Harry - distant cousin of Basil Watson.person, individual, basil watson, photo taken by ivy harry - a distant cousin of basil watson. photo donated to royal historical society bendigo by wesley harry 26 december 1974.

Copy of photograph. On bottom: Bartlett Bros, Sandhurst. In blue handwriting: ' John Boyd Watson (standing) - Basil Watson's uncle, and James Isaac Watson (sitting) Basil Watson's father.person, bendigo, basil watson

Album of 8 photographs - Basil Watson biplane being constructed inside the family home: 1. Body frame of plane; 2 Watson standing in front of cockpit frame; 3. Section of wing and tail; 4. Watson in cockpit frame; 5. Side view of biplane in backyard; 6 Front view of biplane in backyard; 7. As for 6; 8. Rear view of biplane in backyard.photograph, aircraft, basil watson collection

The Hollywood film stars pasted on to one side of this paper are of no historical interest to our Society. The four paper items attached to the other side relate to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson. He flew the first aeroplane to come to Warrnambool in January 1917. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. He had 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. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Watson also brought several letters with him, making him the bearer of the first aerial mail to Warrnambool. Sadly Basil Watson died when his plane crashed at Point Cook in March 1917, just two months after his record-breaking flight to Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection the small galvanized bucket seat which came from Watson’s plane and the original first air letter written by the Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. These four items are of considerable historical interest as they are souvenirs issued at the time of Basil Watson’s aviation exploits in the early 1900s and Watson is of great importance in the aviation history of Warrnambool.This is a piece of paper (possibly from a scrapbook) with one torn edge. Pasted on to the paper on one side are newspaper photographs of early Hollywood female film stars. On the other side are four items relating to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson – an airmail post card, a newspaper black and white photograph, a souvenir black and white photograph and a card with an illustration of an early aeroplane (pictured upside down). ‘The Aerial Postman Basil Watson’ ‘Official Souvenir Australian Aerial Mail’ basil watson, pioneer aviator, aviation in warrnambool’s history, history of warrnambool

Original newspaper article from "The Age" May 11, 1963. Place with a view at Kangaroo Ground by Basil Hall about the construction of the War memorial. The Hall family resided at "Fairview" Panton Hill in the 1920s. Hall was a Eltham Shire Councilor in the 1920s and was associated with the Eltham Shire war Memorial Tower Bulding Committee from 1924 to 1926. Photocopies from "The Road to Gundagi" by Graham McInnes (Hamish Hamilton, 1965), Chapter 9 pages 132 - 153 an autobiography in which the author reminiscences about visiting the Hall family at "Fairview" in Panton Hill as a child. References also to Watson's Creek where MacPherson Robertson ("The Chocolate King") had a summer home, the Shannons, Shanhun and McLaughlin familes. Includes description of the day that Hurstbridge was declared a township (May 26th, 1924), a ralway journey, picnics and rabbiting. McInnes' reminiscences about the periods of his childhood spent visiitng the Hall family in Panton Hill in the 1920s are a rare first hand glimpse into the recreational, social and municipal life in the 1920s within the this rural area within the Shire of Eltham. "Road to Gundagi" was the first of three widely acclaimed autobiographies.Original newspaper article Photocopies, 12 pages.HG Booklet 36basil hall, click here to add keywords, cr. basil hall, eltham war memorial, graham mcinnes, harry gilham collection, hurstbridge, kangaroo ground tower building committee, macpherson robertson, mclaughlin family, panton hill, picnicing, rabbiting, reminiscences, shanhun family, shannon family, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, watson's creek

Undated newsclipping from the Ballarat Courier with 6 photographs of reunion attendees.reunion, alumni, ballarat school of mines, science school, terry lloyd, bob mckenzie, norm edward, jeanette watson, jeanette perkins, bill pryor, peter marxsen, graeme scarfe, john middlin, basil marshall, bruce tippett, alfred watson, john mccoy, john mckenzie, kingsley bremner, john blainey, lloyd lehman

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Friday, July 16, 2004. Young minds: Eaglehawk State School No. 210 Grade 5, 1942. Back row from left: Max Stephens, Merv Harvey, Kevin Boyd, Jack Wright, Albert Attwater, GraemeHammer, Alan Bull, Steve Nancarrow, Bill Farrar, Kelvin Alcock, Gordon Miller, Ray Walls, Ian Brown. Third row: Jim Hunter, Frank Gelsi, Basil Ashman, Alan Moyle, Brian Henderson, Colin Bailey, Stan Boserio, Brian Holt, Horrie Benbow, Eric Perkins, Geoffrey Alan,NormanHenderson, Harry Cox. Second row: Stella Perkins, Faye Hayden, Lois Spillman, Joan Lobb, Edna Kingdom, Lynette Parkinson, Audrey Williams, Dorothy Wilson, Wanda Roberts. Front row: Val Baldwin, Merle Bull, Margaret McCoy, Margaret Alan, Joan McDonald, Lauris Harvey, Val Evely, Marj Watson, Dot Thompson, Audrey Penna.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Collection of 17 sundry newspaper cuttings (some re B. Watson, others aeronautical, plus 'others' - e.g. Scotts Hotel, Melbourne; Alan Shepherd, astronaut. From the Sun, Herald and Warrnambool Standard. Index of cuttings attached to paper Catalogue Sheet: Cuttings related to Basil Watson: c, h, I, n, q.print, persons

COLLECTION OF NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS AND ASSORTED CARDS (J W Parry, Draper & Sec. of Bendigo Progress Association & Chamber of Commerce). Cuttings in sections: Personal; Scientific; Masonic, including programmes [There are two sections on Masonry and large amount of material of interest in that regard T.D.]; Humorous. Note: Pages 64, 65 - article, photographs (Advertiser) re Opening of Upper Lake Reserve Water Chute - including Admission Ticket; Tickets to: 1. Complimentary send-of and Presentation to Mr Murdoch Robertson 9/7/?/; 2. Grand Concert, Miss E Morcombe (soprano) 16/7/1909; 3. Complimentary Banquets and Reception - Royal Welsh Male Choir at close of concert - 7/11/?? Although this is catalogued in the 1200 series [Basil Watson) there is no obvious connection with Basil Watson or family - possible connection with collector (K Munro) of Watson collection?? [T.D.]person, individual, bendigo citizen (man-woman)

Basil Watson departed Melbourne on 24th January 1917, on the initial leg of Australia's first 'barnstorming' aviation tour, promoted by the entrepreneurs Albert Sculthorpe and R. Sissons. During the trip, which lasted over a month, Watson visited Warrnambool, Hamilton and Mount Gambier, before returning via stopovers at Casterton, Hamilton, Warrnambool and Camperdown. At each town he presented a public flying demonstration for crowds of spectators, featuring his usual aerobatic displays with feats such 'looping the loop', upside down flying, somersaulting and 'perpendicular nose dives', generating much amazement and admiration. The promoters had received approval from the Postmaster General's Department to carry an experimental airmail consignment on the return journey from Mount Gambier, and Watson landed in Albert Park on his arrival back in Melbourne on 27th February, carrying over 1,000 pieces of airmail collected from each of the towns on route. Much of the mail was in the form of official souvenir postcards commemorating the event, which were reposted on arrival to local addresses in Melbourne. Churchward, M. (2017) Basil George Watson, Pioneering Aviator (1894-1917) in Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/15473 Accessed 18 December 2018.Book. ' Basil G. Watson, Pioneer Airman, the Mount Gambier to Melbourne 1917 experimental air mail'. Grey cover, 39 pages with photographs and illustrations.H.N. Eustisbiography, aviation, basil g. watson, aviation, airmail, bendigo, basil g. watson.eric j. ames pty ltd printers, 14 chesser street adelaide

This booklet relates the life of Basil Watson. It tells in detail his early life, background, his home built aeroplane, his display flights and his tragic death and the story since. This year marks 100 years since one of Australia’s pioneering aviators, Basil Watson arrived in Warrnambool and delivered the first airmail to the town. Basil Watson was born in Bendigo in 1894. His interest in aviation which began at a young age, took him to England at the commencement of WW1 where he worked at Brookland in aviation workshops and as a test pilot. Despite crashing and suffering injuries he was not deterred. He returned to Australia and by 1916 Basil had built his own plane. He soon took to the air performing tricks and barnstorming to the delight of onlookers. His connection to Warrnambool lies with his delivery of the first airmail to the town, an event which was filled with much excitement. Basil Watson, pioneer aviator landed his 50hp home built aeroplane on the racecourse on Saturday January 27th 1917, after a flight from Point Cook. The trip of 166 miles took just under two hours, and set a record non-stop cross country flight for Australia. Watson was heartily welcomed by the Mayor, to whom he delivered three letters, the first aerial post to Warrnambool. One of the letters, from the Mayor of Melbourne Sir David Hennessy to the Mayor of Warrnambool is now in the W&DHS collection: I have much pleasure in sending you greetings by aeroplane piloted by my friend, Mr Basil Watson. I hope when the cruel war is over and victory crowns our efforts, we, over the Commonwealth, will be able to fly from one State to the other. With best wishes for the New Year. Yours truly, DV Hennessy. Basil Watson was unfortunately killed two months after his historic visit to Warrnambool. While participating in an air show at Point Cook, the plane he way flying that day crashed into the sea. This booklet tells the story of an interesting part of Warrnambool and Australia's aviation history. It has special significance as it enlightens two significant items in our local collection, namely the letter which he delivered and the seat from his aircraft.A small 29 page booklet with blue and white photograph of Basil Watson in his aeroplane. It contains a number of black and white and some colour photographs. Introduction from the author, "This small booklet recognises the short career of Basil Watson. He came to my attention when researching the French aviator Maurice Guillaux who carried the first official air mail in Australia, Melbourne to Sydney in two and a half days 16/18 July 1914..... Tom Lockley 1 June 2017. Handwritten inside front cover,"These items may be of interest to add to your material about Basil Watson. Its a pity that the 100 year anniversary of his flight was not more widely recognised but thank you for mounting some of his records. Tom Hockley."warrnambool, basil watson, first airmail flight, aviation career of basil watson