Aviation enthusiasts fight plan to sell off the birthplace of RAAF

Cleaning the World War II-era Douglas Boston bomber is always a thrill for retirees Terry Smith and Peter Bainbridge."When I was in primary school, I was always thinking about aeroplanes, and I've been thinking about aeroplanes ever since," Terry admits.The pair are members of the volunteer "clean team" that helps maintain the military aircraft displays at RAAF Base Point Cook museum, in Melbourne's south-west.Terry says it's a dream come true to work on them."They're not just aeroplanes. They're aeroplanes with history," he explains."It's really a privilege to get up close and personal with these historic aircraft," Peter agrees.Volunteers Peter Bainbridge and Terry Smith with the Douglas A-20C Boston medium bomber, nicknamed "J for Jessica". (ABC News: Sacha Payne)The Point Cook Air Base was founded more than a century ago and was an important training facility during both World War I and World War II.Its famous amongst aviation and military buffs as the birthplace of the Australian Flying Corps and the RAAF.Officer in Charge, Wing Commander Michelle McPhail, says it holds a great deal of sentimental value."RAAF Base Point Cook is special because it's the birthplace of military aviation in Australia," Commander McPhail says."It was an absolute hive of activity."The very first military flight in Australia occurred [here] on the 1st of March 1914 and it's been a continually operating air base since then."Wing Commander Michelle McPhail says RAAF Base Point Cook is the birthplace of military aviation in Australia. (Supplied: (c) Commonwealth of Australia 2026)But while it's still in Defence hands, the base is no longer as busy, or useful, as it once was.It's home to the museum and a number of heritage-listed buildings, and there is still some training on-site.It's also 342 hectares of prime real estate on the suburban fringe.Unlocking potential land for housingThe air base is one of 67 Defence properties earmarked for sale, as part of a long-planned national audit of government-owned land.The government says, as Australia's defence priorities look increasingly to the north of the country, RAAF Base Point Cook is no longer fit for purpose.It says much of the land and buildings are under-utilised and rapidly deteriorating, with maintenance projected to total $163 million over the next 25 years.The air base is to be sold at market value, with proceeds re-invested in other defence priorities, including upgrades to northern bases.Defence land sales could raise up to $1.8 billion as the ADF tries to address critical capability gaps and redirect investment. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)It's a plan that has self-described "aviation heritage activist" Mark Pilkington up in arms."Those buildings are part of our cultural heritage," Mr Pilkington says."It has a nationally significant RAAF museum based at the site, and you really can't pick that entity up and move it somewhere else."Point Cook is also sitting on the edge of a Ramsar Treaty wetland for migratory birds … it's got endangered native grasslands that need to be protected."Mr Pilkington believes the base has been allowed to fall into disrepair."It is really being neglected and needs to be brought into community and public access," he says.The base sits just outside Melbourne's Urban Growth Boundary, so is not currently zoned for housing.This can only be changed by a majority vote from both houses of parliament.Mark Pilkington is concerned cultural heritage will be lost through the sale. (ABC News: Kyle Harley)But Mr Pilkington believes developers could buy the land, then pressure the state government to rezone."It's attractive to a property developer who will buy the property, land bank it [and] put their hand on the heart that they'll look after the heritage buildings," he says."But then they'll try and lobby and have government change the urban growth boundary so that they can fill it full of housing."They'll sell it off, they'll take their money … and leave the community with the remaining mess."Protecting heritage buildingsWyndham councillor Josh Gilligan says the area is already under significant strain and the council would oppose any rezoning of the area."We need to make sure that the state government, as well as the Commonwealth, build a master plan for this site that accommodates more than just housing," he says.An aerial view of the Point Cook Air Base in 1938. (Supplied: Australian War Memorial )Cr Gilligan says poor infrastructure has left Point Cook unable to cope with the rapid population growth seen in Melbourne's west."We're talking about a single lane road in and out," he says."We know that we're looking at about 150,000 residents in the broader Point Cook area by 2050."We know that every single household that's placed here without a school, without access to health care, without access to key basic services is not a liveable area."The Property Council's Victorian executive director, Cath Evans, told the ABC that the council supports unlocking "well-located land for housing", including the air base.She says any future development would need to be carefully planned and supported with infrastructure, transport and amenities."Unlocking surplus government land for housing is an important part of delivering more homes and improving housing affordability across Victoria," Ms Evans says.Mark Pilkington is lobbying the federal government to establish a not-for-profit trust to manage the base.He says this has been done successfully with other former government properties and could see the site used for sport and recreation, weddings and other activities."[Point Cook could be] … similar to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust that's operated in Sydney Harbour with nine very valuable waterside properties that could well have been fantastic housing estate redevelopments," he says."Or the Point Nepean Community Trust, which had the entire Nepean Peninsula, which again could have been lovely seaside waterfront property values to be sold off."Both of those were handed over to community trusts rather than given to full profit outcomes."The WW II-era CAC CA-18 Mustang, on the airfield at RAAF Base Point Cook during a demonstration. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)The government says it is committed to conserving significant historical places and collections during the divestment process.A Defence spokesperson told the ABC, "the government has an obligation to protect the Commonwealth Heritage Value of a property, (including the air base), as part of any sale".The spokesperson says "alternative heritage management options will also be considered".Cr Gilligan says any plan for the site must come with funding for future management, and an "ironclad commitment" to protect heritage assets."We've seen commitments in terms of precinct structure plans across our city to protect and preserve heritage sites and then where is the money to make sure that comes along with it?" he says."It's simply not enough to say that we will protect these sites on a planning document."Who's accountable for them, who invests in them and who ultimately ensures that the maintenance and upkeep occurs?"Fabric workers from the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force fold a parachute at RAAF Station Point Cook in 1942. (Supplied: Australian War Memorial)Volunteer Peter Bainbridge is concerned a private operator could start charging to enter the museum."[It needs to stay] free too, so that it does not become a commercial enterprise with really expensive entry fees for families," he says.Mr Bainbridge wants it kept for future generations."When I talk about it I actually get a little bit emotional, I just think it's really great to be part of something bigger," he says.The Department of Finance will oversee the sale, but the government has not yet provided a timeline.