The feats of the daredevil early aviators pushed the boundaries of flight and brought Australia closer to the world.

Winners of the London to Australia prize of 1919, Keith and Ross Smith (and their mechanics) were required to fly to Melbourne to collect the cheque for their £10,000 prize from Prime Minister ‘Bil

This clip shows Ross and Keith Smith taking off from England as well as some in-flight images of the open cockpit and crew on their record-setting flight.

This sentimental song in which a girl reminisces with her father about her mother, who has passed away, was recorded on the Pathe record label whilst Ella Caspers was in Europe.

Although Una Bourne did compose and record her own pieces, this piano solo was composed by another female composer, Cecile Chaminade. It is from Six Etudes de Concert. Op.

Frances Alda became a leading soprano at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York in the early 20th century.

Ella Caspers, a contralto who was known as ‘the girl with the voice of gold’, was born in Albury, NSW in 1888. In 1902, she made her debut performance at age 14.

Born in Fitzroy, Victoria in 1875, Florrie Forde was an early star of popular music in Australia. She sailed for England in 1897 and debuted in the London music halls later that year.

Newcastle’s history has been dominated by coal mining and the steel industry.

Known as 'The Australian Queen of Irish Song', Marie Narelle undertook tours to Ireland, the UK and the US, and in the latter she recorded on wax cylinder with Thomas A Edison Inc.