HISTORY OF THE LATROBE VALLEY AERO CLUB AND LATROBE VALLEY AIRFIELDS.

In 1949 a small group of enthusiasts, including ex-servicemen met at Morwell and formed the Latrobe Valley Aero Club.

Neither the Morwell Council nor the Department of Civil Aviation could provide the land required for an airfield so the Aero Club accepted the offer of land from Brinsmeads on their farm adjacent to Morwell near Driffield Road and Sewerage Road.  Being close to Morwell, this land was ideally situated.

In late 1949 to early 1950, club members and the Brinsmead family, with their own and borrowed equipment, marked out a strip 750 yards long and 50 yards wide.  This was later extended to 900 yards, fence to fence, in an East-North-East/West-South-West direction.  This became known as Brinsmeads Field.

Flying was carried out using borrowed aircraft and with Doug. Leckie, from Yarram, as Instructor. 

In 1951 an Air Pageant was held, and this raised sufficient funds to purchase the first Club aircraft, a Tiger Moth.

Because of inadequate drainage in winter, it was necessary to develop a further area, on higher ground, and the mid-strip, 500 yards, was built, running East-West.

In 1951 the Department of Civil Aviation approved the airfield and authorized it as a Landing Area; the Latrobe Valley Aero Club was approved to carry out flying operations including flying training.

A North-South strip, 500 yards long, including a small piece of land leased from the Sewerage Authority Farm at a peppercorn rental, was added in 1952.   Further developments in 1953 included a steel-framed hangar and a fuel bowser.

With its own aircraft, the Club continued part time instruction, and,  after adding more Tiger Moths to the fleet it opened training outposts at Meeniyan, Yarram, and Orbost.

The first appointment of a full time instructor was in late 1953.  The mid '50s saw the purchase of 4 surplus Chipmunk aircraft to replace the ageing Tiger Moths.

Whilst the Airfield was an Authorized Landing Area, it was not protected from adjacent development, and in 1954 the S.E.C. constructed a 66,000 volt line crossing the approach path to the eastern end of the main strip.  This closed the strip for training, which was a major part of its use.  The D.C.A. reluctantly allowed a short time concession during which the Club had to find an alternative site.

The area bounded on the West by the Midland Highway (on its original alignment), and North by Bonds Lane was then suggested by the S.E.C.   Once again, members set about to construct a new airfield, with 2 strips cleared and marked to the satisfaction of the D.C.A.   All flying training was carried out from there, the aircraft being ferried to and from Brinsmeads where they were hangared.  This was known as the "Gas & Fuel Field" as it was sited just south of the Lurgi Gas Plant.   Because of its location, a long term lease could not be obtained.

A power line to Yarram was planned, crossing the site, and the planned Hazelwood Power Station, with its 450 Ft. chimneys, jeopardized the future of this airfield.

The Latrobe Valley Aero Club, now acclaimed by the D.C.A. as an efficient flying training organization, once again faced the possibility of having to close or relocate to the West Sale Aerodrome.  However, a Latrobe Valley Development Plan (1952) nominated an area of land between Traralgon and Morwell as a suitable site for a future airport.

With pressure from the Aero Club, the Shire of Morwell, and politicians, the D.C.A. surveyed the area in 1957 and designated the airfield layout suitable for the use of light aircraft.  The design utilized the highest and best drained 160 acres of the total 600 acres considered in the original nomination.

This property was purchased from the Hourigan family, and the Aero Club members began clearing the site.  Fences were removed, and trees were removed by explosives.   The Club was able to arrange for a RAAF Aerodrome Construction Unit, recently returned from Cocos Island, to make available equipment and operators to help grade and form the strips.

A huge grader formed 3 strips with a camber and side drains allowing for grass sowing.   A Hawksley building was purchased and transported to the Field to become an Airport Terminal and L.V.A.C, Club House /Operations Centre.

Operations commenced on this aerodrome in mid-1959, with aircraft   still being hangared at Brinsmeads.  However, with the construction of hangars at the new site in 1960, operations at the Brinsmead site concluded,

It is of interest to record that the Brinsmeads had provided the use of their property exclusively for aviation, free to all, from 1949 to 1960.

The trend in aviation in the late '50s saw the purchase of 2 Piper TriPacer craft to offer 4-place touring aircraft;  1961 saw the purchase of a Piper Comanche, and advanced retractable fast touring aircraft.

The early '60s saw the development of the Australian AirTourer Aircraft.  The Club purchased the first production aircraft and by 1966 it was operating 4 of these, as trainers.  (They also purchased the last).

With the great growth in general aviation in the 1960's. the Club extended its training programs and in these boom times employed  a staff of 12.  But just as quickly, the scene changed, and by the late 1960's, the Club faced its most trying financial time.   Aircraft were sold, staff dismissed, country training outposts closed, and the Club carried on with 2 aircraft, 1 instructor, and 1 Office lady.

These measures allowed the Club to survive, and through steady growth it has developed once again into one of the premier country flying organizations undertaking private flying, training, charter, aerial photography, fire spotting and controlling, also other diverse activities such as possum tracking.

Improvements at the Latrobe Valley Aerodrome include :

• One sealed strip
• one gravelled all-weather strip
• terminal buildings
• sealed access roads
• radio navigation beacon
• runway lighting

These have been provided for by the co-operative efforts of the Latrobe Valley Aero Club, the Airfield Advisory Committee, and the Civil Aviation Authority (which replaced the earlier Department of Civil Aviation).

The Airfield Advisory Committee is now the responsible body for the management of the airfield and comprises the City of Morwell, City of Traralgon. the Shire of Traralgon, and the Latrobe Valley Aero Club.