Parramatta’s Flying Dentist - Celebrating the 110th anniversary of William Ewart Hart's pioneering flight from Penrith to Parramatta

3 November 2021 marks the 110th Anniversary of a pioneering flight from Penrith to Parramatta Park in 1911. The pilot was Australian aviator and dentist, William Ewart Hart, known as “Billy”. He is considered a local hero of Parramatta.

Billy’s journey to Parramatta Park began at 6:30 in the morning, when Billy set out from Belmore Park in Penrith in his Bristol Boxkite plane, to have breakfast with his father who lived near Parramatta Park in Wentworth Street. Billy Navigated his way along the railway line, flying a distance of 19 miles or about 30.6 kilometres. He was accompanied by his younger brother Jack, aged 16, who was very frightened during the flight and never wanted to fly again afterwards.

Billy and Jack landed in Parramatta Park at the Cattle Paddock. A crowd rushed out in great surprise and excitement at the spectacle. After breakfast, Billy returned solo to Penrith without Jack. Billy Hart’s flight made headlines around Australia and was the first recorded cross-country flight in New South Wales.

The pioneer of powered flight is memorialised with a plaque in Parramatta Park that was erected in 1963, honouring his achievements in aviation. It is located next to the Cattle Paddock near where Billy landed on the Penrith to Parramatta flight. Two signs that sit beside the plaque were added in recent years, with further information and some corrections.

This video and web page were created for the anniversary by university student Edward Lawn, during an internship at the Parramatta Heritage & Visitor Information Centre. The story of Billy Hart’s flight and his significance in Australia’s early aviation history is told through historic photographs and newspaper advertisements, sourced from the collections of several cultural institutions. Edward researched and wrote the narration. He digitally enhanced the historic photographs using Adobe Photoshop, and turned some images into animated sequences with motion graphics techniques using Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects to help bring the story to life.

References:

Airscape Magazine. (2021). Pilot No.1 William Ewart Hart. Retrieved August 2021, from https://airscapemag.com/2021/07/01/pilot-no-1/
Edwards, G. L. (2015). William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook. [Carlingford, N.S.W.]
Evening News, Sydney. (1911, November 3). From Penrith to Parramatta: Bird man’s first flight. Retrieved August 2021, from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/115281619?searchTerm=william%20hart
Isaacs, K. (2006). Hart, William Ewart (Bill) (1885–1943). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved July 2021, from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hart-william-ewart-bill-6592/text11347
Monument Australia. (2021). William Ewart Hart. Retrieved July 2021, from https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/aviation/display/22738-william-ewart-hart

Edward Lawn, Research & Collection Services Student Intern, City of Parramatta, 2021

Gallery of images used in the video

Portrait of Billy Hart. Image source: Virtual War Memorial Australia Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite ca.1911. Image source: National Library of Australia

Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite ca.1911. Image source: National Library of Australia Billy Hart’s Bristol Boxkite with a crowd of onlookers, believed to have been taken at Parramatta Park after his Penrith to Parramatta flight, dated 3 November 1911. Image source: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences

Billy Hart’s Bristol Boxkite with a crowd of onlookers, believed to have been taken at Parramatta Park after his Penrith to Parramatta flight, dated 3 November 1911. Image source: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite ca.1911. Image source: State Library of New South Wales

Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite ca.1911. Image source: State Library of New South Wales The first certificate issued by the Aerial League of Australia to Billy Hart, Australia’s first licensed pilot, 5 December 1911. Image source: Smith's Weekly, Sydney, 23 October 1937 (National Library of Australia)

The first certificate issued by the Aerial League of Australia to Billy Hart, Australia’s first licensed pilot, 5 December 1911. Image source: Smith's Weekly, Sydney, 23 October 1937 (National Library of Australia) Billy Hart flying his Bristol Boxkite biplane at Ascot Racecourse, Mascot 1912. Image source: National Library of Australia

Billy Hart flying his Bristol Boxkite biplane at Ascot Racecourse, Mascot 1912. Image source: National Library of Australia Billy Hart on an early motorcycle. Image source: Edwards, Gregory L. William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook

Billy Hart on an early motorcycle. Image source: Edwards, Gregory L. William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook Billy Hart standing next to his Model-T Ford at Parramatta Park ca.1911. Image source: Edwards, Gregory L. William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook

Billy Hart standing next to his Model-T Ford at Parramatta Park ca.1911. Image source: Edwards, Gregory L. William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook Newspaper advertisement for Billy Hart's dental practice. Image source: Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette 5 September 1906 (National Library of Australia)

Newspaper advertisement for Billy Hart's dental practice. Image source: Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette 5 September 1906 (National Library of Australia)

Newspaper advertisement for Billy Hart's car dealership in Market Street, Sydney. Image source: The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser NSW, 22 July 1911 (National Library of Australia) Billy Hart flying his Bristol Boxkite, 1911. Image source: State Library of New South Wales

Billy Hart flying his Bristol Boxkite, 1911. Image source: State Library of New South Wales Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite with a crowd of onlookers at Penrith ca.1911. Image source: National Library of Australia

Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite with a crowd of onlookers at Penrith ca.1911. Image source: National Library of Australia

Billy Hart sitting on his Bristol Boxkite with a crowd of onlookers at Penrith ca.1911. Image source: State Library of New South Wales Billy Hart talking to a crowd. Image source: State Library of New South Wales

Billy Hart talking to a crowd. Image source: State Library of New South Wales Newspaper advertisement for Hart’s Aviation Company. Image source: The Sunday Times, Sydney, 24 March 1912 (National Library of Australia)

Newspaper advertisement for Hart’s Aviation Company. Image source: The Sunday Times, Sydney, 24 March 1912 (National Library of Australia) Billy Hart and his mother Maria sitting in a two seater monoplane Billy constructed at his father’s timberyard 1912. Image source: National Library of Australia

Billy Hart and his mother Maria sitting in a two seater monoplane Billy constructed at his father’s timberyard 1912. Image source: National Library of Australia Billy Hart’s crashed Monoplane 1912. Image source: National Library of Australia

Billy Hart’s crashed Monoplane 1912. Image source: National Library of Australia The No. 1 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) 1916. Billy Hart is in the front row 2nd on the left. Image source: Australian War Memorial

The No. 1 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) 1916. Billy Hart is in the front row 2nd on the left. Image source: Australian War Memorial Portrait of Billy Hart in uniform 1916. Image source: Australian War Memorial

Portrait of Billy Hart in uniform 1916. Image source: Australian War Memorial Advertisement for Billy Hart's dental practice, Sydney. Image source: Edwards, Gregory L. William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook

Advertisement for Billy Hart's dental practice, Sydney. Image source: Edwards, Gregory L. William Ewart Hart an aviator's life discovered in a scrapbook Plaque in Parramatta Park, erected in 1963. Photo by Edward Lawn, 2021

Plaque in Parramatta Park, erected in 1963. Photo by Edward Lawn, 2021