The First ‘Airfield’ in Australia
Penrith Speedway-Aerodrome is the first case land was set aside for aviation services. It was used by George and Florence Taylor’s Aerial League of Australia to experiment human-carrying gliders during 1909, which also gave Australia’s first pilot license to William Ewart Hart on 5 December 1911. Hart then established an aviation school here on 3 January 1912, though he later moved to the Ham Common in March of that year (also the site of RAAF Base Richmond). Aviation activities returned on 28 January 1928 when an aerodrome was opened, hosting aerial pageants and races along with aircraft races against motormobiles.
The speedway and aerodrome closed in 1941 to develop the Penrith Engineers' Stores Depot, becoming one of Australia’s principal depots by the 1960s. Not much was made to bring this historical site to light, aside from a plaque and art installation.
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