Old Bar Airfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Bar Airfield |
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Heritage boundaries
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| Location | 0.5km off Old Bar Road, Old Bar, Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1925–1925 |
| Owner | Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA) |
| Official name: Old Bar Airfield; Old Bar Airstrip; Old Bar Aerodrome | |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 25 February 2000 |
| Reference no. | 1304 |
| Type | Airfield/Landing Strip |
| Category | Transport - Air |
| Builders | George Bunyan and family |
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The Old Bar Airfield is a special place in Old Bar, Australia. It's like a historical landmark for planes! It was built way back in 1925 by George Bunyan and his family. People also call it the Old Bar Airstrip or Old Bar Aerodrome. Because of its important history, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on February 25, 2000. This means it's protected so future generations can learn about it.
Contents
The History of Old Bar Airfield
The Old Bar Airfield was built in the mid-1920s. This was a time when air travel was very new and exciting! The Australian Government wanted to start air mail and passenger services. They needed places for planes to land and refuel.
A Key Stop for Early Flights
By 1926, many airfields were set up across Australia. Old Bar Airfield became a super important stop. It was the main place for planes to refuel between Sydney and Brisbane. Imagine flying all that way and needing a gas station for your plane! The government officially called it an "aerodrome" in 1930.
Famous Pilots and Air Shows
A really exciting event happened at the airfield on November 15 and 16, 1930. It was a huge Air Pageant! About 35 planes came, including famous ones like the "Canberra." This plane belonged to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, a legendary Australian pilot. Another famous pilot, Captain Charles Ulm, flew the "City of Lismore."
The pageant was full of "joyrides." This meant people could pay to go for a short flight. It was a fun way for people to experience flying for the first time. This was a common part of early aviation, like a traveling show for planes!
A Hub for Air Travel
Old Bar Airfield was a regular refueling spot for Kingsford-Smith and Ulm's airline, Australian National Airways. This continued until mid-1931. After that, another airline called New England Airways used the airfield. They offered flights twice a week between Sydney and Brisbane. Their planes stopped at places like Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, and of course, Old Bar.
Airfield During World War II
In the mid to late 1930s, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also used the airstrip. They would often have up to six Hawker Demon planes visit Old Bar for refueling. During 1939-1940, the RAAF even stationed a Wackett Gannet plane there for a year. This plane helped with coastal surveying and mapping. The Old Bar Aerodrome was also used as an emergency landing field for the RAAF during World War II.
Visits from Aviation Pioneers
Many important Australian aviation pioneers visited the Old Bar Airstrip. These included Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, Captain Ulm, Jean Batten, and Nancy Bird Walton. These were some of the first people to fly long distances and explore the skies.
Changes and Reopening
In February 1989, the local council closed the airfield. But it didn't stay closed for long! The state Minister for Natural Resources, Ian Causley, ordered it to be reopened.
However, on January 1, 1995, the council removed the runway markers, flight strip markers, and the windsock. This effectively closed the airfield again. These items are now stored at Taree Airport.
Before the airfield was officially listed as a heritage site in 2000, the council had plans for the land. They wanted to turn the airstrip into sports fields and a skateboarding rink. They only planned for planes to land there on special occasions.
In 2000, a fence was built at the southern end of the airstrip. This fence helps keep people and vehicles safe when planes are landing or taking off.
What Old Bar Airfield Looks Like
The Old Bar Airstrip is located near Old Bar Beach. Today, it's surrounded by fun places like recreation facilities, a caravan park, and houses.
The Airstrip's Features
The airfield is at the southern end of Old Bar Park. It's right next to Old Bar Beach and Old Bar Road. The airstrip itself is made of grass over a firm clay base. It runs north to south and is about 675 meters long and 60 meters wide.
Next to the airstrip on the west side, there's an area of native wet heath plants. You can find a special plant there called Austral toadflax, which is a vulnerable species. To the north and west, there are native eucalypt woodlands.
Over the years, some things that were part of the airfield have been removed. These include markers, a fuel shed, and the windsock. As mentioned, the windsock and runway markers are stored at Taree Airport. There's also a concrete slab at the southeastern end of the runway. This might have been the base for a fuel pump from the 1940s.
Condition and Hidden History
In 1999, the airfield was in excellent physical condition. Experts thought there might be old things buried underground, like a fuel tank. However, later searches didn't find any trace of it. Local people remember that the tanks were removed in the 1960s. There might still be small parts of the old fuel pump left.
Overall, Old Bar Airfield is still very much like it was in the past. It was always a simple grass airstrip surrounded by nature, and it remains that way today. Even though some items like the windsock were moved, they are stored and could be put back.
Why Old Bar Airfield is Special
The Old Bar Airfield is very important to Australia's history. It's a rare example of an old airfield that is still mostly the same as it was in the early days of flying.
A Link to Aviation History
The airfield has strong connections to Australia's first major pilots, like Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and Captain C.T.P. Ulm. It also connects to famous female pilots like Jean Batten and Nancy Bird Walton. It played a key role in developing air mail and passenger services in Australia. It was also the site of a famous air pageant in 1930. During World War II, the RAAF used it for refueling and mapping the coast.
Important to the Community
The airfield helps us understand how Australia's aviation industry first grew. This includes how air mail, passenger flights, and fun "joy flights" started. The Old Bar Airfield is important to people who love aviation all over Australia. It's also special to the local community, especially older residents. They remember how the town grew with the airfield and have worked hard to protect it.
Beautiful Views from Above
From the sky, the airfield looks very beautiful. It's right next to the coastline, surrounded by bushland, and has the Manning River Estuary in the background. When seen from a plane, the airfield is a clear landmark for the town of Old Bar.
Old Bar Airfield was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on February 25, 2000, because it meets several important rules:
- It shows how history happened in New South Wales.
This place is important because it helped develop Australia's air mail and passenger services. It's directly linked to famous pilots and was used by the RAAF during World War II.
- It has beautiful features or shows great skill.
The airfield looks amazing from the air. It's right by the coast, surrounded by native plants, and has the Manning Estuary behind it. It's a key landmark for Old Bar.
- It is strongly connected to a community or group.
Both the local community and people who love aviation across Australia feel a strong connection to this airfield. They have worked hard for many years to protect it.
- It can help us learn about history.
This place can teach us a lot about how Australia's aviation industry started. It shows how air mail, passenger services, and fun flights developed.
- It is rare or endangered.
Old Bar Airfield is a very rare example of an old airfield in a coastal town. Many similar airfields have been changed with concrete runways or have been closed down.
- It shows the main features of its type.
Old Bar Airfield is a great example of a typical grass airfield from the 1920s and 1930s. It's similar in size and look to how Kingsford-Smith Airport in Sydney used to be.
