Welcome to the Lawrence Hargrave Society (LHS), dedicated to preserving, commemorating and furthering knowledge about Lawrence Hargrave, one of the world’s leading aviation pioneers of the nineteenth century. Wilbur Wright regarded him this way, and the first commercial aircraft to fly in the world were called ‘The Hargrave’.
Through this website the Society is providing information about Lawrence Hargrave, and opportunities for further education and research, for school children and adult researchers. This includes activities commemorating Hargrave, such as the Public Schools Living Lesson Kite Day held biennially in November.
The website is LHS’s virtual centre. LHS has as an aim a more physical presence in the Historical Aircraft Restoration centre (HARS) facility at Shellharbour Regional Airport (YSHL), Albion Park a place where tourists and educational groups can learn more about Hargrave and his work. Thus far LHs has erected a Heritage Display at Albion Park airport, and, thanks to past IMB sponsorship, has commissioned several models of Hargrave’s most significant contributions to Aviation, such as the Radial Rotary Engine, stable wig surfaces (box kites), and curved wing research.
It is hope that these, and other models, can one day be housed for public display and easy accessat the HARS facility LHs welcomes ideas and information, which can be emailed to