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A bottle of Dewar’s Whisky that was the first air mailed whisky to Australia is on display at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation.
Pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler was the first person to fly solo from England to Australia, and on this flight he carried the first case of whisky that was air mailed to Australia.
Hinkler flew solo in his Avro Avian from England to Australia between 7 and 22 February 1928 in record time.
On board this flight, he carried a cardboard box of miniature Dewar’s Whisky from Croydon and unveiled them to the Brisbane Dewar’s representative, declaring that this was the first case of whisky air mailed to Australia.
The Dewar’s Whisky brand was created by John Dewar, Sr. in 1846. The bottle in display at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation is one of the 12 bottles transported by Hinkler.
Also, on display in the exhibit at Hinkler Hall of Aviation is a letter dated 26 January 1928, from Lord Dewar to his “dear old pal” H V Jaques Esq. detailing the gift of the whisky via Hinkler’s trip.
H.V Jacques presented a bottle to the 1st Anti-Aircraft Brigade Officers Mess as a trophy for the first officer to shoot down an enemy plane in World War II; Lieutenant Peter W Fisher was awarded this trophy for his enemy shoot down, which took place in Rabaul on 20 January 1942.
Doors to the Hinkler Hall of Aviation have now reopened, welcoming the community back in to share in Bert Hinkler’s legacy.
The popular tourist attraction, located in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, had been closed since March after coronavirus restrictions were implemented across the state.
To find out more about Hinkler’s record flight from England to Australia, check out the Hinkler Hall of Aviation between 9 am and 3 pm seven days a week.