ABOUT LORES BONNEY

About Bonney and Lores Bonney

The State Electoral district of Bonney was created in 2017. It covers the suburbs of Labrador, Arundel, Parkwood, the northern part of Southport, The Surrounds, most of Biggera Waters, and a small part of Coombabah.

Bonney was named in honour of one of Queensland’s most adventurous pioneers — aviator Lores Bonney.

Lores was a trailblazer in aviation, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate Australia by air. In 1931, she set a new Australian record for a one-day flight by a woman. By 1933, she became the first woman to fly from Australia to England, even modifying her plane’s engine herself. Her longest journey came in 1937, when she flew from Australia to South Africa, covering over 29,000 kilometres with a flight time of 210 hours and 45 minutes. Few men, and no other Australian women, have ever matched her achievements.

Despite her incredible feats, the media of the time often focused on her clothing or linked her accomplishments to her husband, diminishing her recognition. In the 1950s, she addressed this directly:

“…the public never will have the same confidence in a woman at the control of the great airliners as they have in a man, I hope I am proven wrong.”

Even today, women remain significantly underrepresented in aviation, making up just 7% of aircraft operators.

After retiring, Lores settled in Palm Beach, where she passed away at age 96 in 1994. Through her remarkable journeys, she not only paved the way for women in aviation but also challenged perceptions of women’s technical skill and capability. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of female aviators.

Parliament is our most important institution, and to have a seat named after you is a rare honour, one that celebrates Lores’ pioneering spirit and lasting impact.

To learn more about Lores Bonney, read this Australian Geographic article.