
04/08/2025
✈️ Nancy Bird Walton – A Sky-High Legacy in Bourke
Born near Port Macquarie in 1915, Nancy Bird Walton was drawn to the skies from a young age — taking her first flying lesson with none other than Charles Kingsford Smith.
As Australia’s first female commercial pilot, Nancy didn’t just fly — she blazed trails. In the 1930s, she based herself in Bourke for nearly three years, operating Royal Far West Children’s Services and reaching remote corners of NSW where even the Royal Flying Doctor Service hadn’t yet flown.
A true pioneer, her legacy lives on in Bourke through the Nancy Bird Air Terminal and the inspiring stories shared in books available at the Back O’ Bourke Information & Exhibition Centre.
Come learn more about the woman who soared above expectations — and brought care, courage, and compassion to the outback.