The History of the Crookwell Aero Club
Crookwell's connection with aviation goes back more than a century!
From early aircraft landing in local paddocks to enormous air pageants, passenger flights, agricultural aviation and generations of local pilots, flying has long captured the imagination of the Crookwell community.
Crookwell's Aviation Timeline
August 1920
Crookwell's first
recorded aircraft visit.
On 19th August 1920, Lieutenant A. E. Robertson MC and Flight Sergeant J. Barry arrived from Goulburn in an Avro aircraft while promoting the Federal Government's Peace Loan
After performing manoeuvres all over Crookwell & dropping promotional literature, the aircraft landed in a paddock known as "The Grange". However, during take-off, it struck a fence post and overturned! Thankfully, both men escaped injury.
This is believed to have been Crookwell's first aircraft visit - and also became its first recorded crash.
June 1928
The fly-in that started
it all.
On the 16th June 1928, nine aircraft carrying 15 pilots arrived at the old Crookwell racecourse as part of an Australian Aero Club tour.
More than 300 cars and an estimated 2000 people gathered to welcome the visitors. The pilots and passengers were later taken to the School of Arts for a civic reception.
The extraordinary turnout demonstrated Crookwell's enthusiasm for aviation and helped inspire the creation of the local club.
June 1928
18th June - The club is
formed
Just two days after the visiting aircraft arrived, a public meeting established the Crookwell and District Aero Club!
The club began with 29 members and Dr W. Arthur Kerr as its first president. By December, membership had grown to 50, with seven members eager to learn to fly.
One of the Principal aims was to establish a permanent aerodrome for Crookwell.
November 1928
Red Rose visits
Crookwell
The famous Avro Avian Red Rose landed at Crookwell Aerodrome on the 3rd of November 1928
Piloted by Mr Shortridge, the aircraft offered passenger flights throughout the afternoon. These proved enormously popular with local residents.
Red rose had previously been used by Captain Bill Lancaster and Jessie "Chubbie" Miller during their historic flight from England the Australia.
April 1929
Crookwell's grand air
pageant
Around 3000 people attended Crookwell's first major air pageant.
Ten aircraft took part in formation flying, exhibition flights, simulated aerial combat and a 20-mile aerial derby. Aircraft attended from the NSW Aero Club, No. 3 Squadron RAAF and Goulburn Aero Club.
During the pageant, Captain Geoffrey Hughes officially opened the Crookwell Aerodrome and remarked that few towns in New South Wales were ahead of Crookwell in aviation.
July 1929
Aerodrome Licence
No. 29
Crookwell Aerodrome received Aerodrome Licence No. 29 under the Air Navigation Regulations.
The licence initially permitted restricted aircraft types, including DH Moths, Avros and Avians. It was not approved for pilot training because longer landing distances were required.
The licence marked Crookwell's place among the pioneering aerodromes of Australian civil aviation.
1929 - 1930
Flying arrives in
Crookwell
The aerodrome welcomed a succession of visiting aircraft and aviators.
In December 1929, decorated First World War pilot Les "Lucky" Holden arrived in his DH-61 Giant Moth, "Canberra". Captain Matheson accompanied him and conducted approximately six trial introductory flights.
In March 1930, the Aero Club of NSW visited with three aircraft and three instructors, offering passenger an introductory flying experiences.
1932
Remembering Dr Arthur
Kerr
Founding President Dr W. Athur Kerr was made the club's first honorary life member in recognition of his work establishing the club and organising the successful 1929 air pageant.
Dr Kerr died in 1932 at only 33 years of age. His contribution remains an important park of the club's early story.
1934
The Southern Cross at
Crookwell
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was expected to visit Crookwell in August 1934 to conduct passenger flights and attend the Hospital Ball. When illness prevented him from attending, renowned aviator P. G. Taylor arrived in his place.
Taylor conducted at least one local flight in the famous Southern Cross. Local memories suggest Kingsford Smith may have visited Crookwell shortly afterwards, possibly on the 8th of September, although this has never been conclusively confirmed.
Among those connected with the flights was 13-year-old, Mollie Hall, who won her flight with her essay - "The Part the Aeroplane Will Play in the Future Development of Australia".
1938
The original club
closes
By the late 1930s, aircraft had outgrown the aerodrome's original dimensions. New regulations, improvement costs and concerns about public liability created increasing difficulties for the club.
The Crookwell and District Aero Club chose not to renew its tenancy and returned Aerodrome Licence No. 29 for cancellation. Meetings held in 1938 failed to achieve a quorum, and the original club was subsequently declared defunct.
Although the club had closed, Crookwell's aviation story was far from over.
December 1950
Passenger flights return
The Royal Aero Club of NSW bought three two-seat aircraft to Crookwell in December 1950.
The Visit provided cross-country navigational experience for club members while also promoting aviation locally through passenger flights and an aerial display.
1950s - 1960s
Plans for a bigger
future
Crookwell Shire Council repeatedly explored ways to enlarge and improve the aerodrome.
Proposals included purchasing adjoining land, lengthening the runway, creating an Authorised Landing Ground. This plan entailed an exchange of land with Mr D.W Cummins so that the aerodrome site wound be 40 chains by 10 chains, thus permitting construction of a longer runway. This would allow establishing a passenger service linking Crookwell with other regional centres.
Although regular airline services were found to be impractical, the aerodrome continued serving private, charter and agricultural aircraft.
1975
A local Cessna comes
to Crookwell
Local pilots Bob Barnett and Max Warren joined Crookwell Publican Dave Clark to purchase a green-and-white 1964 Cessna 172, registered VH-GMB.
A wonderfully informal "gentleman's agreement" with adjoining landowner David Cummins allowed a hanger to be built beside the aerodrome, with direct access through the boundary fence.
Around 1984, commercial pilot and aircraft maintenance engineer Jim Hutson and his wife Rose established an agricultural aviation operation at Crookwell.
Their work continued Crookwell's close relationship between aviation, farming and the surrounding district.
1984
A new aviation
base
On the 16th of September 1997, Crookwell Shire Council acquired the remaining aerodrome land from the Department of Lands.
Local recollections record that the title included protection for the land to remain available as an aerodrome for the Crookwell community, helping safeguard its aviation purpose for future generations.
September 1997
Securing the
aerodrome's future
On the 29th of April 2000, a ceremony commemorated the offical opening of Crookwell Aerodrome in 1929.
Tom Hughes, son of Captain Geoffrey Hughes, unveiled a plaque honouring his father and mother, Margaret, who had flown from Sydney for the original opening.
April 2000
Honouring the
pioneers
Nearly a century after the original club was established, the Crookwell Aero Club was reformed in 2026 by a group of aviation enthusiasts.
The new club carries forward Crookwell's remarkable aviation heritage while creating fresh opportunities for pilots, aircraft owners, families and anyone with an interest in flight.
2026
A new chapter
begins
Historical Acknowledgement
The history presented on this page has been drawn primarily from "Aviation in Crookwell", researched and complied by Austin Cummins 2016.
Austin's extensive work brought together council and club records, historic newspapers, photographs, personal recollections and contributions from members of the Crookwell community. His dedication has preserved an important part of Crookwell's aviation heritage and made it possible for this story to be shared with future generations.
Our History Continues
Crookwell's aviation history belongs not only to its pilots, but to the entire community, the families who welcomed visiting airmen, the farmers who embraced agricultural aviation and the thousands who gathered to watch aircraft overhead.
Today, the Crookwell Aero Club is proud to continue that story!