When he died in 1910, Octave Chanute was hailed as the father of aviation. He had helped the Wright brothers design their ground-breaking aeroplane but before his death some of his highest praise was given to Sydneysider, Lawrence Hargrave. In 1893 Chanute is quoted as saying, ‘If there be one man, more than another who deserves to succeed in flying through the air that man is Lawrence Hargrave.’ This photo shows Hargrave and fellow aviator James Swaine conducting their famous kite-lift experiment at Stanwell Park, south of Sydney, on 12 November 1894.