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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Mrs Bonney flying from Australia to South Africa via Siam. Singapore 1937 (full length portrait)

an unknown artist

carbon print on paper (sheet: 15.0 cm x 10.0 cm)

Maude Rose 'Lores' Bonney MBE AM (1897–1994), aviatrix, was born in South Africa, grew up in Melbourne and attended a German finishing school before marrying Harry Barrington Bonney, a Queensland businessman, in 1917. Her husband's cousin, Bert Hinkler – who in 1928 made the first solo flight from England to Australia – took her for her first flight, after which she declared that flying was the 'answer to my dreams: I adored birds, and there I was literally feeling like one.' She had her first flying lessons from Hinkler, in secret, while her husband was playing golf. When she admitted to her new interest, he bought her a bespoke suede flying suit and a de Havilland Gypsy Moth which she named 'My Little Ship'. In this aircraft she set a new distance record for women, flying from Brisbane to Wangaratta in 1931. In 1932 she became the first woman to circumnavigate Australia by air, and in 1933 she became the first woman to fly solo from Australia to England. In 1937 she flew a Klemm aircraft, My Little Ship II, to South Africa. My Little Ship II was destroyed by fire in 1939. She gave up flying shortly afterwards – having been advised by the armed forces that women pilots were of no use during war – and in later years devoted her time to gardening and bonsai.

Purchased 2012

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Maude Rose Bonney AM MBE (age 40 in 1937)

Subject professions

Business, trades and industry

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency