The suburb of Kingsford and the Federal Seat of Kingsford Smith are both located within Randwick City and named after Australian aviation legend, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (1897-1935)
Acknowledged in his time as the world's greatest aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was born on 9 February 1897 in Brisbane. When he was 18, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. During WWI, "Smithy" served at Gallipoli, in Egypt and in France before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps where he discovered his great passion for flying. For his gallantry in the skies over France, when he was just 20, he was awarded the Military Cross.
After his service, "Smithy" went on to become an extraordinary pioneer of civil aviation and air mail routes. He created more flying records than anyone else in the world at that time and quickly became a national hero.
"Smithy" was awarded a knighthood in 1932 for his services to aviation. He was admired globally for his courage, daring and sense of adventure.
In 1935, during a flight from India to Singapore, Kingsford Smith and his co-pilot John Thompson Pethybridge went missing. Despite a search, their bodies were never discovered. His untimely death at 38 was a great loss to the nation.
In 1936, "Kingsford" was chosen from a competition sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, naming this suburb in honour of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
In 1990 Randwick City Council commissioned the Southern Cross Mural by Lloyd Kellerman in a popular thoroughfare called Southern Cross Close located adjacent to Anzac Parade at the end of Gardeners Lane.
A mosaic by David Humphries depicting Kingsford Smith was installed in the same laneway and unveiled by Councillor John Procopiadis, Mayor of Randwick on 11 August 2010.
The mosaic was produced with support from Randwick City Council, Public Art Squad, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Kingsford Chamber of Commerce (President Peter Schick) and the mosaic was directed by David Humphries and designed by Masoud Nodous and artist Tim Cole.
On 21 June 2014, Councillor Scott Nash, Mayor of Randwick officially unveiled an updated and extended mural by artist Annette Barlow complementing the 2010 and 1990 artworks.
The mural was commissioned by the Kingsford Chamber of Commerce with support from Council and Randwick Rotary.
To read more about the life and achievements of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith link to the entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography online.
