In 1871 the latest in aeronautics came to South Australia.   It was the lighter than air balloon.  The balloon had been around for quite some time.  The early ones consisted of heating the air, and filling the balloon with the heated air.  This was very dangerous, and on many occasions led to the material in the balloon, usually silk, catching fire, and of course leading to an accelerated descent.

In the ascent in Adelaide June 24th 1871, the “Young Australian” was filled with coal gas.  Coal gas was used for the balloon flights in Adelaide, because it was cheaper, and it was considered relatively safe.  Hydrogen had also been used, as it was about 18 times lighter than air, but this too was highly flammable.  The process of filling the balloon with gas was quite a long one.  A couple of days previously an attempt had to be abandoned, due to the slow filling process, but this was solved, in part, by using a larger pipe and increased pressure.  Half an hour before liftoff, the balloon was just about ready to go.  The pumping was stopped, and the public who were paying to watch the spectacle, began to increase in numbers.  It was intended to carry three passengers along with the pilot.  As the time for liftoff grew near, the pilot realised he would not be able to take three passengers.  It had been raining most of the morning, so together with the lower atmospheric pressure, and the extra weight of the wet ropes and equipment, it was decided, only one passenger should ride in the balloon.  The three persons chosen were all from the Advertiser newspaper, Mr Tyas, Mr Lazar and Mr DeLissa.  The pilot Mr Gale chose Mr Tyas as the only person to make the first flight, much to the disappointment of the other two.¹

(The photograph above was taken by Edward Farndell in 1871. It shows the Young Australian about to leave the cattle yards in North Terrace Adelaide. The photo is by courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, Ref. No. B13519).

Mr Gale had estimated that the air density plus the increased weight of wet gear, would reduce the lifting power about 1½ cwt. (hundredweight.) The passenger, Mr Tyas, was required to observe and record the instrument readings.  The balloon carried seven instruments, three aneroid barometers, three thermometers, and an azimuth compass.  An aneroid barometer does not use liquid of any kind to record air pressure.  All the instruments were on loan from Mr. Sawtell of Rundle Street, who was the colonies first watchmaker and maker of navigational instruments.  Mr Tyas’s recording shows the maximum height reached was 4,600 feet above sea level, before landing in the property of Mrs. Fox at Marybank, near Athelstone, six miles from the cattle yards on North Terrace City, the takeoff point.  The whole trip took approximately 15 minutes.  On landing the balloonists were met by Mr. Alford of the Glynde Hotel, and after packing up, were taken to that Hotel to meet up with the recovery crew who came out from the city.

The second flight took place on the 8^th of July 1871, again, from the cattle yards on North Terrace Adelaide.  This time the weather was a bit kinder, and the observers were, for an extra payment, allowed to go up to about 200 feet in the “Young Australian” whilst it was still tethered to the ground.  Amongst the thirty or forty people who took this opportunity, was Lavinia Balford of Parkside, who became the first female in South Australia to take a balloon flight.  The passengers on this flight were announced as Mr Lazar and Mr F W Bullock.  Mr Lazar also intended to take his dog, Tommy Dodd, on the trip. Tommy Dodd was a Skye terrier, which he though appropriate.  However as before, Mr Gale announced that only one could make the flight.  Mr Lazar was chosen, as he was the unlucky one on the previous attempt.  Tommy Dodd totally refused to enter the basket, and no amount of coaxing could persuade him.  He in fact offered dogged resistance, as a reporter put it.  The departure took place at around 4.15pm. Once again, Mr Sawtell provided the instruments that Mr Lazar was to use to record the trip.  The balloon rose, and headed towards Athelstone, and was soon above the clouds.  It landed about 4.50pm in Mr Lommond’s section, No 336, about 680 yards from the Thorndon Park reservoir.  A Mr Best was on hand to provide a tarpaulin in which to wrap the balloon.  Once again Mr Alford was on hand to assist the packing up, and they left for the Glynde Hotel about 5.50pm.  At the Glynde Hotel, they met Mr Tyas, who had been the first passenger in the “Young Australian” a couple of weeks before.  He returned Mr Gale and his passenger to Adelaide.²

On the 26^th of August 1871, a third flight was made by Mr Gale and his balloon “Young Australian.”  This time the weather was better, and the balloon was able to take two passengers. The two were Mr F W Bullock, who had missed the previous flight, and Mr J Oldham.  After takeoff from the cattle yards the balloon headed over the West terrace cemetery and the Glenelg road towards Goodwood.  The balloon eventually landed near the Flagstaff Hotel.  Mr Bullock, thinking the trip was over stepped out of the basket.  Mr Gale called out for him to grab hold of the anchor rope, along with some youngsters who had arrived to witness the landing, which he failed to do.  The balloon, now being relieved of considerable weight, immediately rose quite dramatically.  It very quickly rose to about one mile high and passed over Tapley’s Hill. The balloon eventually came to earth near Reynella, after travelling about 14 miles in 45 minutes.³

Researched and written by Jim Nelson, volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au.

References

1. The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922) Monday 26 June 1871 p 3
2. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Monday 10 July 1871 p 6
3. Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) Monday 28 August 1871 p 3