Calling all aviation enthusiasts and Brisbane historians, allow extra time on your next trip to Brisbane Airport to visit the Kingsford Smith Memorial.

This memorial is dedicated to the early Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, best known for making the first trans-Pacific flight in 1928 from Oakland, California, to Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

The preserved “Southern Cross” aeroplane is on display at this memorial, and Brisbane Airport is the custodian of this important relic for the Commonwealth of Australia.

The best way to tour the centre is through a self-guided tour of the information boards or via the voiceover system that tells the story of the Southern Cross.

This memorial is completely free and opens 24 hours a day, seven days a week so visit on your way to the airport or when you are waiting to pick someone up.