Ballarat Airport

Ballarat Airport is located 4 nautical miles west of Ballarat in the outer suburb of Mitchell Park, Victoria, Australia.HistoryPilot 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 theRoyal 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"-type hut buildings 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 the Avro Anson was used up until 1945. The Avro Anson was a twin engine model, coloured yellow for training purposes. The plane was flown around the regions of Ballarat, and western Victoria.This information has been supplied by a former trainee in 1945 discharged late 1945 at the Melbourne Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne. best regards KPQ 24071925No 1 WAGS was disbanded on 31 December 1945.Post WarUnlike 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, however a majority of the P Huts were sold by the Commonwealth.