I feel like I’m cataloging airfields now, but each has a rich history and I intend coming back in due course to fill in the blanks.

Warnervale is in the Wyong district north of Gosford. It’s an important regional airfield and one of the few remaining strips between Sydney and Newcastle. These days we have to catch a train or drive our cars first if we want to fly… and whilst flying is not the most fuel-efficient method of transport it’s hardly going to be enhanced by extra car or truck journeys, is it? Alas airfields tend to secure an expanse of grass for runways and overruns, eventually attracting developers bent on turning the “wasted” grassy fields into houses or industrial estates. The airport itself may attract additional investment, leading to jobs, and further development. Which is a downward spiral leading to airport closure when newly local residents complain about the aircraft noise. Warnervale is secure for now but the fight to remain active is always on the horizon.  

Making Time for Flying: Moisture in the air and water in the tanks

After Patonga I adjusted my heading slightly toward Warnervale at 3500ft, with still lots of clouds in the Kariong area. I found Warnervale aerodrome, which is not really a challenge given its prominent location between the Pacific Highway and Tuggerah Lake. One lonely Cessna 152 was doing circuits at Warnervale. I made a call on the CTAF frequency advising everyone I was overflying the aerodrome and kept tracking north.

I feel like I’m cataloging airfields now, but each has a rich history and I intend coming back in due course to fill in the blanks.

Warnervale is in the Wyong district north of Gosford. It’s an important regional airfield and one of the few remaining strips between Sydney and Newcastle. These days we have to catch a train or drive our cars first if we want to fly… and whilst flying is not the most fuel-efficient method of transport it’s hardly going to be enhanced by extra car or truck journeys, is it? Alas airfields tend to secure an expanse of grass for runways and overruns, eventually attracting developers bent on turning the “wasted” grassy fields into houses or industrial estates. The airport itself may attract additional investment, leading to jobs, and further development. Which is a downward spiral leading to airport closure when newly local residents complain about the aircraft noise. Warnervale is secure for now but the fight to remain active is always on the horizon.  

Making Time for Flying: Moisture in the air and water in the tanks

After Patonga I adjusted my heading slightly toward Warnervale at 3500ft, with still lots of clouds in the Kariong area. I found Warnervale aerodrome, which is not really a challenge given its prominent location between the Pacific Highway and Tuggerah Lake. One lonely Cessna 152 was doing circuits at Warnervale. I made a call on the CTAF frequency advising everyone I was overflying the aerodrome and kept tracking north.

I’ve already quoted from the excellent Gliding.com.au site but here I go again, just for the record.

The first glider flight: Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

The first “glider” flight in Australia was made in December 1909 by George Taylor at Narrabeen, NSW. A special memorial has been erected opposite the Narrabeen Post Office to commemorate this feat. Taylor’s partner was a young fellow by the name of Edward Halstrom who was to become a household name in Australia for his gas powered Silent Knight home refrigerators of the 1950s and his private zoo of rare animals.

Did you realise that there once was a Granville glider club? Or that they test flew at Duck Creek, Auburn? Well it was a while ago… but on the other hand I can remember the odd paddock strung along Parramatta Road in that area from Homebush to Parramatta, persisting until the 1970s at least.
 
Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

I spoke to Stan Rose who was later to become Secretary of the Southern Cross Club about the early days. In 1930, he saw the Granville Club’s glider and was very impressed with it. Being a lad of 15, he went home and found a design of a hang glider in “Chums Annual” and decided to build it. It had about a 5 metre wingspan and was made of bamboo tied together with cord fishing line.

When the wings were ready for covering the only logical material was some bed sheets and these proved ideal although his mother put on no end of a performance when she found out. Ah, one of the first of many little differences of opinion caused by gliding.

So with the wing covering held on with flour and water glue, it was ready for test flying. The site was Duck Creek at Auburn and it was blowing a good westerly. Stan got up a bit of a run and with a good angle of attack, the thing jumped about five feet into the air. Next it dropped one wing, zoomed into the creek and clobbered the only tree stump in sight.

Gliding – or perhaps hang gliding – is not a surprise at the Cronulla/Kurnell sandhills.

Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

Harry Ryan, who was later the CFI of the Southern Cross Gliding Club, was one of the early pioneers of gliding. He had his first flights with Martin Warner and Alf Pelton who operated a German Primary glider from the sandhills at Cronulla in 1931.

But Bunnerong Park is a bit of a surprise. Especially in the dark.

Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

Another group was started by Jack Munn who designed and built the Falcon. They formed the Sydney Metropolitan Gliding Club and flew at Bunerong Park, about a kilometre from Mascot Airport. They flew by day and night and records show that the group often flew until midnight if the moonlight was bright enough. To help with night landings, a motor bike headlamp was fitted to the front of the machine and a motor bike battery tied inside the nacelle. When coming in to land, at a few feet off the ground, the pilot used his left hand to clip a lead onto the battery terminal.

I’ve already quoted from the excellent Gliding.com.au site but here I go again, just for the record.

The first glider flight: Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

The first “glider” flight in Australia was made in December 1909 by George Taylor at Narrabeen, NSW. A special memorial has been erected opposite the Narrabeen Post Office to commemorate this feat. Taylor’s partner was a young fellow by the name of Edward Halstrom who was to become a household name in Australia for his gas powered Silent Knight home refrigerators of the 1950s and his private zoo of rare animals.

Did you realise that there once was a Granville glider club? Or that they test flew at Duck Creek, Auburn? Well it was a while ago… but on the other hand I can remember the odd paddock strung along Parramatta Road in that area from Homebush to Parramatta, persisting until the 1970s at least.
 
Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

I spoke to Stan Rose who was later to become Secretary of the Southern Cross Club about the early days. In 1930, he saw the Granville Club’s glider and was very impressed with it. Being a lad of 15, he went home and found a design of a hang glider in “Chums Annual” and decided to build it. It had about a 5 metre wingspan and was made of bamboo tied together with cord fishing line.

When the wings were ready for covering the only logical material was some bed sheets and these proved ideal although his mother put on no end of a performance when she found out. Ah, one of the first of many little differences of opinion caused by gliding.

So with the wing covering held on with flour and water glue, it was ready for test flying. The site was Duck Creek at Auburn and it was blowing a good westerly. Stan got up a bit of a run and with a good angle of attack, the thing jumped about five feet into the air. Next it dropped one wing, zoomed into the creek and clobbered the only tree stump in sight.

Gliding – or perhaps hang gliding – is not a surprise at the Cronulla/Kurnell sandhills.

Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

Harry Ryan, who was later the CFI of the Southern Cross Gliding Club, was one of the early pioneers of gliding. He had his first flights with Martin Warner and Alf Pelton who operated a German Primary glider from the sandhills at Cronulla in 1931.

But Bunnerong Park is a bit of a surprise. Especially in the dark.

Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

Another group was started by Jack Munn who designed and built the Falcon. They formed the Sydney Metropolitan Gliding Club and flew at Bunerong Park, about a kilometre from Mascot Airport. They flew by day and night and records show that the group often flew until midnight if the moonlight was bright enough. To help with night landings, a motor bike headlamp was fitted to the front of the machine and a motor bike battery tied inside the nacelle. When coming in to land, at a few feet off the ground, the pilot used his left hand to clip a lead onto the battery terminal.

NSW Sport Aircraft Club – Wedderburn

Become a member of the NSW Sports Aircraft Club Inc. and enjoy the general experience of belonging to a club dedicated to the private ownership of aircraft and to the comradeship of the aviation fraternity. Wedderburn was founded as an inexpensive venue for members to fly, house their aircraft and fraternize with aviation minded people. And it continues to adhere to those principals today. So ideally it is the Flying Club there for your pleasure—- not simply a place to park your aircraft.

NSW Sport Aircraft Club – Wedderburn

Become a member of the NSW Sports Aircraft Club Inc. and enjoy the general experience of belonging to a club dedicated to the private ownership of aircraft and to the comradeship of the aviation fraternity. Wedderburn was founded as an inexpensive venue for members to fly, house their aircraft and fraternize with aviation minded people. And it continues to adhere to those principals today. So ideally it is the Flying Club there for your pleasure—- not simply a place to park your aircraft.

Castlereagh Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castlereagh Aerodrome was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) emergency landing ground and dispersal ground during World War II at Castlereagh, New South Wales, Australia. The runway was 5,000 ft long (1,500 m) x 150 ft wide (46 m). The airfield was to become home to No. 94 Squadron’s Mosquito aircraft and had been upgraded by No. 9 Airfield Construction Squadron, however the aircraft did not arrive before No. 94 Squadron was relocated to RAAF Base Richmond and disbanded.

After disposal by the RAAF, the airfield was used as a drag strip eventually closing in April 1984, becoming Castlereagh Country Estate.

Castlereagh Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castlereagh Aerodrome was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) emergency landing ground and dispersal ground during World War II at Castlereagh, New South Wales, Australia. The runway was 5,000 ft long (1,500 m) x 150 ft wide (46 m). The airfield was to become home to No. 94 Squadron’s Mosquito aircraft and had been upgraded by No. 9 Airfield Construction Squadron, however the aircraft did not arrive before No. 94 Squadron was relocated to RAAF Base Richmond and disbanded.

After disposal by the RAAF, the airfield was used as a drag strip eventually closing in April 1984, becoming Castlereagh Country Estate.

Fleurs Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fleurs Aerodrome was a parent aerodrome built on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force near Penrith, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.

Construction started on the aerodrome in 1942 and was still under construction in 1944 as part of a proposal to base a United States Navy Fleet Air Wing in Sydney should the need arise. Initially planned with three runways, No.1 (5000ft) and No. 3 (6000ft) runways were serviceable, however construction of No. 2 runway (5000ft) was abandoned. A total of eight aircraft dispersal hideouts were constructed and accommodation was a farm house and a former Civil Constructional Corps camp.

In 1969, Fleurs was considered as a site of the second airport for Sydney. The aerodrome is now utilised as precision ground-reflection antenna range operated by the University of Sydney, known as the Fleurs Radio Observatory.

Not only but also….
“…Satellite aerodromes were constructed to alleviate congestion at ‘parent’ aerodromes. The degree of congestion at any of the ‘parents’ could be indicated by the number of satellites. For instance, in Western Sydney between Blacktown and Penrith (at the foot of the Blue Mountains), Fleur
had five satellites. Fleur was a Station for the United States Navy Fleet Air Arm (USN FAA). As Australia needed the assistance of the US with its extensive defence assets, the government considered it appropriate to provide any necessary infrastructure from which the US fleet could base itself in the southern hemisphere. It was an objective of the US Navy to have one ‘parent’ and six dispersal airfields in the Sydney region and Fleur met this requirement. The presence of the US in the State and at its aerodromes is obviously significant due to their success in the South-West Pacific Area campaign.”

Fleurs Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fleurs Aerodrome was a parent aerodrome built on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force near Penrith, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.

Construction started on the aerodrome in 1942 and was still under construction in 1944 as part of a proposal to base a United States Navy Fleet Air Wing in Sydney should the need arise. Initially planned with three runways, No.1 (5000ft) and No. 3 (6000ft) runways were serviceable, however construction of No. 2 runway (5000ft) was abandoned. A total of eight aircraft dispersal hideouts were constructed and accommodation was a farm house and a former Civil Constructional Corps camp.

In 1969, Fleurs was considered as a site of the second airport for Sydney. The aerodrome is now utilised as precision ground-reflection antenna range operated by the University of Sydney, known as the Fleurs Radio Observatory.

Not only but also….
“…Satellite aerodromes were constructed to alleviate congestion at ‘parent’ aerodromes. The degree of congestion at any of the ‘parents’ could be indicated by the number of satellites. For instance, in Western Sydney between Blacktown and Penrith (at the foot of the Blue Mountains), Fleur
had five satellites. Fleur was a Station for the United States Navy Fleet Air Arm (USN FAA). As Australia needed the assistance of the US with its extensive defence assets, the government considered it appropriate to provide any necessary infrastructure from which the US fleet could base itself in the southern hemisphere. It was an objective of the US Navy to have one ‘parent’ and six dispersal airfields in the Sydney region and Fleur met this requirement. The presence of the US in the State and at its aerodromes is obviously significant due to their success in the South-West Pacific Area campaign.”

Getting confused yet? The WWII airstrip at Wallgrove (or Doonside) is just 3km or so from the Fleurs airstrip. Sydney was ringed with the darned things, apparently.

Wallgrove Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wallgrove Aerodrome was a Royal Australian Air Force satellite and emergency airfield at Doonside, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.

The aerodrome was built in 1942 and the runway was 5000ft (1524m) long and 150ft (45.72m) wide running NW-SW. After World War 2 the aerodrome was closed in 1946 and reverted to farmland.

A number of former revetments are still in existence and the runway can still be located. A industrial area has been built over the southern end of the aerodrome.

Getting confused yet? The WWII airstrip at Wallgrove (or Doonside) is just 3km or so from the Fleurs airstrip. Sydney was ringed with the darned things, apparently.

Wallgrove Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wallgrove Aerodrome was a Royal Australian Air Force satellite and emergency airfield at Doonside, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.

The aerodrome was built in 1942 and the runway was 5000ft (1524m) long and 150ft (45.72m) wide running NW-SW. After World War 2 the aerodrome was closed in 1946 and reverted to farmland.

A number of former revetments are still in existence and the runway can still be located. A industrial area has been built over the southern end of the aerodrome.

Marsden Park Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marsden Park Aerodrome was an aerodrome constructed by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) near Marsden Park, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.

The aerodrome was built in 1942, as a relief landing ground for RAAF Base Richmond, with a runway 5,000 feet (1,500 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide. A number of RAAF radar stations; No’s 169, 170, 309 & 312 were located around the aerodrome during separate times. The aerodrome was abandoned after World War II and was briefly used as a motorsport facility in the 1950′s.

Marsden Park Aerodrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marsden Park Aerodrome was an aerodrome constructed by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) near Marsden Park, New South Wales, Australia during World War II.

The aerodrome was built in 1942, as a relief landing ground for RAAF Base Richmond, with a runway 5,000 feet (1,500 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide. A number of RAAF radar stations; No’s 169, 170, 309 & 312 were located around the aerodrome during separate times. The aerodrome was abandoned after World War II and was briefly used as a motorsport facility in the 1950′s.

Woy Woy.net -A  Woy Woy Weblog

On the way out to the site I saw an old bloke walking a greyhound down the road and I pulled over to ask him if he knew of the airfield.
In a stroke of luck he did indeed know of the strip and pointed over the fence from where we were and said ” that’s it there ” – right in the spot I suspected , he also told me to go see a local further down the road who had lived here all his life.
So I drove to the end of Lake road to see the ” Mr Lake ” , that was what the greyhound guy called him.

Woy Woy.net -A  Woy Woy Weblog

On the way out to the site I saw an old bloke walking a greyhound down the road and I pulled over to ask him if he knew of the airfield.
In a stroke of luck he did indeed know of the strip and pointed over the fence from where we were and said ” that’s it there ” – right in the spot I suspected , he also told me to go see a local further down the road who had lived here all his life.
So I drove to the end of Lake road to see the ” Mr Lake ” , that was what the greyhound guy called him.

As I’ve mentioned several times before Sydney and nearby towns played host to a number of wartime airstrips including The Oaks, Cordeaux, Schofields, Hoxton Park and Woy Woy amongst many others. Some of these remain usable but others were re-used as motor racing tracks or simply became disused.

So here’s RAAF Fleur, another one with an interesting post-war use.

The CSIRO connection – Flowering_of_Fleurs

Fleurs is situated about 40 km west-south-west of central Sydney near Badgery’s Creek, and occupies an expanse of flat land between South Creek and Kemps Creek adjacent to a disused WWII air strip. Between 1954 and 1963, Fleurs was the leading field station of the CSIRO’s Division of Radiophysics, and was home to three innovative cross-type radio telescopes, the Mills Cross, Shain Cross and the Chris Cross (Figure 1), all of which played important roles in furthering international radio astronomy (Robertson, 1992). This article discusses these radio telescopes, and the research that was carried out at the Fleurs field station.

The Gliding connection – Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

In 1946 the AWA Club moved to a disused wartime emergency strip just west of Cabramatta called Fleurs Airstrip which was only 3 Km away from the Doonside airfield. It was to become more or less a permanent home for gliding operations. Being on the bend of a river, it used to flood regularly and when a hanger was finally built the machines were always lifted up on top of 200 litre drums as a safety measure. On visiting the strip after one of these floods, the first job was always to retrieve the toilet hut which always seemed to be a couple of kilometres downstream.

At the end of ’46 things were pretty busy at Fleurs. The clubs operating from there were the AWA Club, Sydney Metropolitan, Cumberland-Phoenix (now amalgamated) and occasionally Sydney Soaring.

Gliding moves to Camden – Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

Late in 1953 the NSW Gliding Association decided to hold a “gliding pageant” at Camden. The Hinkler and Sydney Soaring Clubs were already flying their sailplanes from this site. Although the Southern Cross membership was down to five, they loaded the old Primary onto an antique Bedford truck and decided to attend the pageant as well.

They were very impressed with the long smooth Camden runways and decided not to return to Fleurs Airstrip which was destined to be taken over by the CSIRO for the Maltese Cross Radio Telescope. Besides Camden was totally deserted apart from a few gliding people and a locally owned Macarthur-Onslow Hornet Moth which rarely flew.

As I’ve mentioned several times before Sydney and nearby towns played host to a number of wartime airstrips including The Oaks, Cordeaux, Schofields, Hoxton Park and Woy Woy amongst many others. Some of these remain usable but others were re-used as motor racing tracks or simply became disused.

So here’s RAAF Fleur, another one with an interesting post-war use.

The CSIRO connection – Flowering_of_Fleurs

Fleurs is situated about 40 km west-south-west of central Sydney near Badgery’s Creek, and occupies an expanse of flat land between South Creek and Kemps Creek adjacent to a disused WWII air strip. Between 1954 and 1963, Fleurs was the leading field station of the CSIRO’s Division of Radiophysics, and was home to three innovative cross-type radio telescopes, the Mills Cross, Shain Cross and the Chris Cross (Figure 1), all of which played important roles in furthering international radio astronomy (Robertson, 1992). This article discusses these radio telescopes, and the research that was carried out at the Fleurs field station.

The Gliding connection – Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

In 1946 the AWA Club moved to a disused wartime emergency strip just west of Cabramatta called Fleurs Airstrip which was only 3 Km away from the Doonside airfield. It was to become more or less a permanent home for gliding operations. Being on the bend of a river, it used to flood regularly and when a hanger was finally built the machines were always lifted up on top of 200 litre drums as a safety measure. On visiting the strip after one of these floods, the first job was always to retrieve the toilet hut which always seemed to be a couple of kilometres downstream.

At the end of ’46 things were pretty busy at Fleurs. The clubs operating from there were the AWA Club, Sydney Metropolitan, Cumberland-Phoenix (now amalgamated) and occasionally Sydney Soaring.

Gliding moves to Camden – Southern Cross Gliding Club, Sydney

Late in 1953 the NSW Gliding Association decided to hold a “gliding pageant” at Camden. The Hinkler and Sydney Soaring Clubs were already flying their sailplanes from this site. Although the Southern Cross membership was down to five, they loaded the old Primary onto an antique Bedford truck and decided to attend the pageant as well.

They were very impressed with the long smooth Camden runways and decided not to return to Fleurs Airstrip which was destined to be taken over by the CSIRO for the Maltese Cross Radio Telescope. Besides Camden was totally deserted apart from a few gliding people and a locally owned Macarthur-Onslow Hornet Moth which rarely flew.

Cordeaux Airfield (Landing Ground), Cordeaux Dam, New South Wales, during WW2

Cordeaux Airfield was constructed in late 1942 near Cordeaux Dam in New South Wales as an RAAF landing ground (maintenance) for its parent RAAF airfield at Albion Park.

The airfield consisted of a sealed runway 5,000 feet long and 150 feet wide running NE/SE with twelve aircraft hideouts. Original Works were authorised to build the sealed runway and 24 hideouts. Remnants of the airfield can still be seen today where it crosses Mount Keira Road about 5.6kms north of Cordeaux Dam.

Cordeaux Airfield (Landing Ground), Cordeaux Dam, New South Wales, during WW2

Cordeaux Airfield was constructed in late 1942 near Cordeaux Dam in New South Wales as an RAAF landing ground (maintenance) for its parent RAAF airfield at Albion Park.

The airfield consisted of a sealed runway 5,000 feet long and 150 feet wide running NE/SE with twelve aircraft hideouts. Original Works were authorised to build the sealed runway and 24 hideouts. Remnants of the airfield can still be seen today where it crosses Mount Keira Road about 5.6kms north of Cordeaux Dam.

WALLSAIR Airport

Wallsair is a collection of 17 like minded aviators who enjoy their flying, from GA to ultra-lights. Conveniently located 4 Nm west of Newcastle, Wallsair has a 750 meter dirt strip oriented 30 and 210 degrees,

Currently 2 Hangars and a Clubhouse.

GPS Co-ordinates

S 32 degrees 52.977

E 151 degrees 40.977

Visitors are welcome, but where possible landings and takeoffs are to be to and from the north. If landing from the south is necessary, approach down the green corridor running south west of the strip. If the strip is wet, land and takeoff on the western side of the centre. Circuits are to be wide to the west around Maryland residential. Beware of HT power lines running along the west of the strip.

Wallsair flyers are all on radio and use Newcastle frequency 132.100 Mhz.

WALLSAIR Airport

Wallsair is a collection of 17 like minded aviators who enjoy their flying, from GA to ultra-lights. Conveniently located 4 Nm west of Newcastle, Wallsair has a 750 meter dirt strip oriented 30 and 210 degrees,

Currently 2 Hangars and a Clubhouse.

GPS Co-ordinates

S 32 degrees 52.977

E 151 degrees 40.977

Visitors are welcome, but where possible landings and takeoffs are to be to and from the north. If landing from the south is necessary, approach down the green corridor running south west of the strip. If the strip is wet, land and takeoff on the western side of the centre. Circuits are to be wide to the west around Maryland residential. Beware of HT power lines running along the west of the strip.

Wallsair flyers are all on radio and use Newcastle frequency 132.100 Mhz.

I have my doubts about this first location, but we have one source that says that the Bateau Bay airstrip was at the Entrance, in the grounds of what is now the Entrance High School. It’s possible, but it’s very close to the township itself and on sloping ground. Whilst that ground would have at least have been drier than the surrounding swamps, there is a second option – another school site at Bateau Bay proper that is flatter and better in every way. Perhaps it was just too swampy? We do have a local report that perhaps backs the second site up, which I’ll share down the page…

Assuming it was on the Entrance High site, although the alignment is unknown (to me, anyway) we could assume it ran northeast-southwest (aligned with Newling lane but uphill and aimed at the township) or perhaps more east-west (logical for such a coastal airstrip and flatter but it would conflict with the road layout). More research required I fear.In any case, I still doubt it was the site.
 

Bateau Bay, New South Wales at AllExperts

* Bateau Bay was once home to an airstrip known as The Entrance Airstrip. The site of The Entrance Airstrip is now within the grounds of The Entrance High School *

The second site (my preferred option) is mentioned by a Gosford Aeromodeller: “The first time I spotted radio control models was in 1972 at the old The Entrance airstrip near Bateau Bay. This area is now occupied by sports fields and a High School. They drew a big crowd on Sundays because of the nearby Entrance road. The club however was soon on the move because permanent flying fields were hard to find, even in those days. By the time I had decided to join they were no longer at Bateau Bay and for a time I was unable to locate them.” 

So it was closer to Bateau Bay than The Entrance, putting it down on the flatter land to the south on what is now Tuggerah Lakes College (formerly Bateau Bay High School). A much better site IMHO. This site fits with my recollections as well – although I didn’t come to the coast a lot in the late 60′s early ’70s I could have sworn I saw an old strip down on the flat near the main junction (now a roundabout).

  

I have my doubts about this first location, but we have one source that says that the Bateau Bay airstrip was at the Entrance, in the grounds of what is now the Entrance High School. It’s possible, but it’s very close to the township itself and on sloping ground. Whilst that ground would have at least have been drier than the surrounding swamps, there is a second option – another school site at Bateau Bay proper that is flatter and better in every way. Perhaps it was just too swampy? We do have a local report that perhaps backs the second site up, which I’ll share down the page…

Assuming it was on the Entrance High site, although the alignment is unknown (to me, anyway) we could assume it ran northeast-southwest (aligned with Newling lane but uphill and aimed at the township) or perhaps more east-west (logical for such a coastal airstrip and flatter but it would conflict with the road layout). More research required I fear.In any case, I still doubt it was the site.
 

Bateau Bay, New South Wales at AllExperts

* Bateau Bay was once home to an airstrip known as The Entrance Airstrip. The site of The Entrance Airstrip is now within the grounds of The Entrance High School *

The second site (my preferred option) is mentioned by a Gosford Aeromodeller: “The first time I spotted radio control models was in 1972 at the old The Entrance airstrip near Bateau Bay. This area is now occupied by sports fields and a High School. They drew a big crowd on Sundays because of the nearby Entrance road. The club however was soon on the move because permanent flying fields were hard to find, even in those days. By the time I had decided to join they were no longer at Bateau Bay and for a time I was unable to locate them.” 

So it was closer to Bateau Bay than The Entrance, putting it down on the flatter land to the south on what is now Tuggerah Lakes College (formerly Bateau Bay High School). A much better site IMHO. This site fits with my recollections as well – although I didn’t come to the coast a lot in the late 60′s early ’70s I could have sworn I saw an old strip down on the flat near the main junction (now a roundabout).

  

Our Field/Getting Here – Gosford City Aeromodellers

Located at the top of Mangrove Road at Narara, we are very central on the coast and easy to find. There are 2 ways to access the club, from the north and from the south. From the northen end it’s easiest to get to the club via Dog Trap road at Ourimbah, which tee’s off the Pacific Highway opposite the RSL club and links up with Mangrove road once you cross the freeway. The Southern end is accessed by getting onto Narara Valley Drive and following it until you can turn off directly onto Mangrove road, I would recommend coming from this direction as it is fully tarred where Dog Trap road still has a dirt section.

Our Field/Getting Here – Gosford City Aeromodellers

Located at the top of Mangrove Road at Narara, we are very central on the coast and easy to find. There are 2 ways to access the club, from the north and from the south. From the northen end it’s easiest to get to the club via Dog Trap road at Ourimbah, which tee’s off the Pacific Highway opposite the RSL club and links up with Mangrove road once you cross the freeway. The Southern end is accessed by getting onto Narara Valley Drive and following it until you can turn off directly onto Mangrove road, I would recommend coming from this direction as it is fully tarred where Dog Trap road still has a dirt section.