Ballarat Airport

Ballarat Airport (known officially as the Ballarat Aerodrome) (ICAO: YBLT) is located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) west[1] of Ballarat in the outer suburb of Mitchell Park, Victoria, Australia.

Ballarat Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorCity of Ballarat
LocationMitchell Park, Ballarat, Victoria
Elevation AMSL1,433 ft / 437 m
Coordinates37°30′33″S 143°47′40″E
Map
YBLT
Location in Victoria
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 1,265 4,150 Asphalt
13/31 568 1,864 Grass
18/36 1,245 4,085 Asphalt
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]

History

Pilot training was first offered on the Ballarat Common in 1914–15. In 1934, the airport was formalised with the construction of a tin hangar.

No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School (1 WAGS)

In 1940, the site was resumed by the Commonwealth of Australia, and a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airfield known as Empire Air Training Scheme No 1 Wireless Air Gunners School was established (EATS 1 WAGS) at the Ballarat Showgrounds on 22 April 1940.

The hangar already on the site was relocated to the Commonwealth Flax Mill, and four Bellman hangars and numerous "P" (personnel) Huts were erected. In mid-1940, the Wireless Air Gunners School relocated to the aerodrome. During its operation as a WAGS the wireless operators were mainly trained in panel vans and, from mid-1941, in CAC Wackett trainer aircraft.

The Wackett was used up until 1941 and then an Avro Anson was used up until 1945. The Avro Anson was a twin-engined aeroplane, coloured yellow for training purposes. It was flown around the Ballarat region and western Victoria.

No 1 WAGS was disbanded on 31 December 1945.

Post War

Unlike many other EATS sites, the RAAF retained the airfield as its Radio School until 1961. The then-Shire of Ballarat negotiated with the Department of Interior to become the civil operator of the airfield and sought the maintenance on site of the hangars and other structures, but a majority of the P Huts were sold by the Commonwealth.[2]

In 2006, the aerodrome was recommended for listing on the Victorian Heritage Register due to its ability to illustrate the Empire Air Training Scheme in Victoria. The site was included on the register on 27 July 2007.[3]

The aerodrome continues to perform an important role in emergency services operations, civil operations and flight training, and as accommodation for many community groups and organisations. The Ballarat Aviation Museum is located at the airport, as is the Friends of the Anson Air Museum.

Motorsport
Ballarat
LocationBallarat, Victoria, Australia
Time zoneUTC +10
OperatorLight Car Club of Australia
Victorian Sporting Car Club
Opened26 January 1947
Closed12 February 1961
Major eventsVictoria Cup, Victoria Trophy
Length5.1 km (3.2 mi)
Turns6
Race lap record1:51 (Dan Gurney, BRM P48, 1961, Formula Libre)

The airfield had a brief motor racing career, beginning on Australia Day in 1947 when it held its first motor race meeting. Racing returned in November of both 1950 and 1951, then finally for an International Formula Libre race in February 1961, which was attended by some European Formula One teams. BRM factory drivers Dan Gurney and Graham Hill finished first and second in the major race, the Victoria Trophy with Ron Flockhart third in a Cooper. Famously on the night before the race Gurney's car was stolen from its hangar and driven into or hidden with, hay bales out on the track with minimal damage.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. YBLT – Ballarat (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 05 Nov 2020, Aeronautical Chart Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Ballarat Airport – City of Ballarat". Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  3. "Former Ballarat RAAF station, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H2113". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  4. "This Week in Racing History (February 11–17)". motorsport.com. 11 February 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  5. Walker, Terry (1995). Fast Tracks. Turton & Armstrong Pty Ltd Publishers. pp. 22 & 23. ISBN 0-908031-55-6.
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