The History Behind the Sign!

The How and Why Best’s Wines has a painted roof

In 1919, Prime Minister Billy Hughes announced that the Australian Government would give 10,000 pounds to the crew of the first plane to fly from England to Australia. The main stipulations were that the airmen must be Australian, the planes British and that the flight must be completed in 30 days before the end of the year.

And so,the famed Melbourne to Adelaide flight took place. To aid the pilots in navigation, local businesses on the ground were asked to paint signs on their roofs, Best’s Wines commissioned William Thomas Lewis, a painter from Stawell to paint the winery name on the top of its cellar door as a race landmark.

William, with son Hugh aged 12, cycled eight miles in the heat of Summer from Stawell to great Western, with a long ladder held between them with paint tins and brushes attached.

On November 12, 1919 brothers Ross and Keith Smith together with J.M.Bennett and W.H.Shiers set off from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in a giant Vickers Vimy for Australia. The weather was branded officially as unfit for flying, and it was- sleet and snow deluged them in their open cockpit. The Smith brothers were anxious, however, to be on their way.

A Frenchman, Etienne Poulet, although not an official entrant, had left Paris airport a couple of weeks earlier and was now speeding on towards India. The Australians were hoping to catch up with him.

By the time the Smith brothers reached Cairo, all other official entrants had dropped out f the race and only Poulet remained ahead of them. He was in fact 2,000 miles ahead in Karachi. When they reached Karachi he was in Delhi, a day’s flight away. Bad luck had dogged the gallant Frenchman. He had made four forced landings. His mechanic went down with fever. A tropical storm blew his frail plane back over its tracks. They overtook Poulet at Akyab and next day beat him to Rangoon. Shortly after this a cracked piston forced him out of the race.

Now only the Vickers Vimy remained and all they had to do was arrive in Darwin within the thirty-day limit and the 10,000 pounds was theirs. However, with only four days to go, trouble struck at Sourabaya. The Vimy became bogged to the axles on the airstrip and it seemed as though their attempt would have to be abandoned. However, the locals, using all the bamboo matting they could find, laid a roadway over the mire 300 yards long and 40 yards wide. Soon they were on the last lap and landed in Darwin on December 10, 1919 with two days to spare.

Ross and Keith were knighted and together with Bennett and Shiers received a wonderful welcome in Sydney. A reception and official luncheon was given for them at Parliament House, Melbourne, at which Billy Hughes gave them a cheque for 10,000 pounds.

excerpt from illustration, original painting by P. Waderman reference Vickers Vimy (G-EAOU)- First Flight, Britain to Australia.

Today the Vickers – Vimey is on display at Adelaide Airport for all to see.

The 1929 East-West Air Race

As 1929 celebrations kicked into gear across the country to celebrate the Centenary of Western Australia, the founding of Perth and the Swan River Colony. One of the festivities in 1929 was the East-West Air Race or the Western Australian Centenary Air Race as it was also known.

Pilots flew the 3940km from Sydney to Perth in six stages (and 12 sections within those stages):

On the Melbourne to Nhill section, the pilots needed a signpost to ensure they were flying on the right path. Again the renown Best’s Cellars painted roof came into view. This painted sign has remained clear and crisp for viewers from the skies ever since.

Seventeen teams left Mascot in Sydney on 29 September in 1929. Only 14 teams finished the race, arriving at Maylands Aerodrome in Perth on 7 October.

British Major Hereward de Havilland took out the fastest overall prize of £300 in his modified Havilland Gypsy Moth. The handicap winner was aviator Horrie Miller, who won £1000. Settling results in the handicap event was a challenging task. With type of machine, tumultuous weather conditions, wind direction and strength of wind for each half day’s hop, compounded by starting times being taken into consideration.

Except for the 1911 Circuit of Europe Air Race, the East-West Air Race and the 1919 England to Australia Flight. The East-West Air Race of 1929 was the longest race in the history of aviation.

We’re thankful the path of this historic race covered the skies over Great Western, so Best’s Wines will forever be viewed as a landmark for those with their heads in the clouds…