Kingsford Smith Memorial

Families' Pick 2026 · Brisbane: picked by the Funtivities team as a standout for families in Brisbane.

Last updated October 2026

Free memorial at Brisbane Airport displaying Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross aeroplane, with information boards and audio, open 24/7.

The Kingsford Smith Memorial on Airport Drive at Brisbane Airport is dedicated to the aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith. Brisbane Airport says he is best known for the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia, the first non-stop crossing of the Australian mainland and the first flight between Australia and New Zealand. His preserved aeroplane, the Southern Cross, is on display, and Brisbane Airport looks after it for the Commonwealth of Australia. Visitors tour the memorial themselves using the information boards or a voiceover system that tells the story of the Southern Cross. Entry is free and the memorial is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. To get there, take the exit off Airport Drive just before the roundabout at the International Terminal.

Facts checked against the venue's own website on 17 October 2026.