CITY OF GRAFTON airplane with pilot and visitors

Photographer Samuel J Hood Studio (Australian, 1899 - 1953)

Date1933-1935

Object number00035779

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis image depicts the aircraft ‘City of Grafton’ which was purchased by New England Airways in 1933 from Australian National Airways. Previously named ‘Southern Sky’, the monoplane was piloted by Keith A Virtue (seen centre wearing pilot cap). In 1933, at just 25 years of age, it was reported in the 'Northern Star' that Virtue had already reached 3,650 flying hours and covered over 400,000 miles. On 10 July 1935, Virtue spotted the missing steamer MAHENO whilst flying the 'City of Grafton' over Indian Head, the eastern side of Fraser Island, Queensland.SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.