Arthur Leonard Long’s strait success celebrated in Torquay

THE centenary of the first flight over Bass Strait was celebrated at the Torquay Foreshore on Monday.

A biplane flew over The Esplanade at 10am to mark the occasion, with this being the exact time Lieutenant Arthur Leonard Long landed his plane in Torquay on December 16, 1919.

Both the author of the book ‘Bridging the Strait; A salute to the first man to fly across Bass Strait’ Pirrie Shiel, and Lt Long’s son David Long talked at the anniversary of the event, which was held next to the memorial near the intersection of The Esplanade and Anderson Road.

Torquay Museum Without Walls’ Chris Barr and Surf Coast Shire mayor Rose Hodge also gave small speeches before the plane flew overhead.

Ms Shiel first learned about Lt Long’s incredible journey in a small museum in Tasmania.

She said that Lt Long used some unconventional methods to ensure he completed the journey.

“He put an extra petrol tank on the passenger seat and an extra oil supply on the top wing of the plane, and he rigged it up so he could just pull a rope and the oil would go into the engine.

“Near Aireys Inlet he realised the oil was getting low in the engine, so he pulled on the rope and it broke. So, he realised he was in trouble then and knew if he was to make it to Melbourne he would
have to find somewhere to land.”

That place was a paddock in Torquay, although the exact whereabouts is uncertain.

Due to a headwind and a couple of navigational errors, Lt Long had taken four hours to reach Torquay. But he did not stay for long, as he soon went on to Melbourne.

At the event, Cr Hodge also thanked Torquay Museum Without Walls for their contribution to the community.

“The work that they do is absolutely fantastic and I congratulate you all on doing this.

“The last couple of years it has just been fantastic to have such wonderful historians in town that are bringing back all these wonderful stories.”

The event was organised by Torquay Museum Without Walls, while Tiger Moth Flights orchestrated the biplane flyover.