Illawarra

Distinguished and Famous people from Illawarra

🪁 Lawrence Hargrave

Inventor Lawrence Hargrave moved to Stanwell Park in 1893 and continued experiments in flight. In November 1894 he used a train of four box kites to lift himself above the beach, with instruments recording conditions during the ascent. His caretaker James Swain helped with the experiment. Hargrave’s work investigated lift, wing surfaces and propulsion during the wider international search for practical flight. The Illawarra connection is direct experimental work on a particular beach, where an apparently simple kite arrangement became an important aeronautical demonstration.