SYDNEY, NSW. — George Augustine Taylor was born in Sydney on August 1, 1872. As a young man, he trained as a builder and then worked as a cartoonist.
Emerging developments in science and technology began to capture his imagination.
As a student and admirer of aviator Lawrence Hargrave, Taylor developed a keen interest in gliding. Together with Edward Hallstrom, he pioneered gliding in Australia, launching from the sandhills at the northern Sydney beach of Narrabeen on December 5, 1909.
His craft was a biplane with a box-kite tail for balance, built from coachwood and covered with oiled calico.
Taylor’s wife also tried her hand at gliding that day.
Taylor went on to be an architect, engineer, founder and Secretary of the Australian Air League, and cartoonist for The Bulletin and Punch magazines.
He also founded the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) in 1910, contributing much to the spread and development of wireless technology in Australia.
The January 25, 1928 issue of the Construction and Local Government Journal contains an article ‘The Life and Work of G. A. Taylor’, which details the achievements and nature of this remarkable man
An epileptic, he died as the result of a seizure in his bathtub on January 20, 1928, leaving his wife, Florence Mary Taylor a widow.
They had no children.
