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Vic41


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For the ex RAAFies......Former RAAF Laverton Air Base...
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GN Member (ex RAAF) Garry O sent me this link on the former RAAF Base Laverton, being turned into housing, see;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/legoblock/sets/72157602792703367/
 

 

 



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Cloak


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I've worked in or visited nearly every one of those buildings.

I spent several awesome years on that base in the 70's & early 80's.

After looking at those pics I feel all that effort and time was for nothing.


Even muslim graffiti what the hell happened to Australia?

I give up.

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Vic41


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What's with the zig zag floor or floor and ceiling bearers Cloak, any idea, or what was parked in there?  Chopper?  Fire Truck?....confuse



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Big Gorilla


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Seems to me a waste of a good airport, but I guess it's outdated, needs a lot of maintenance and repair. The runways are far too short for any modern aircraft. It's also probably too close to the built up area.  I recall when Tullarmarine opened. It was in an isolated area with 24 hour operation. As you fly into Tullermarine today you can see the houses creeping up to the airport boundaries. Soon the residents of nearby housing will be screaming for it to be closed between  11 p.m. and 6 a.m.because of noise.



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johnq


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I thought that a small parcel of land was to be kept for special purpose. It is a pity that nothing was seen as national heritage.

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rockylizard


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johnq wrote:

~~~SNIP It is a pity that nothing was seen as national heritage.

Gday...

I had spent quite a bit of time at RAAF Laverton before I wisely chose retirement

Even back in 2000 there was very little that would rate as national heritage - it had been let go far too much. hmm

I spent many a night in the Sergeant's Mess ... I doubt that would or should gain national heritage. cry

Like so many of the 'older' bases, they were neglected during the 1980s and 1990s to the point of not being salvageable.

The O's mess (and I had spent a few nights there as well) had some chance but even that was too neglected.

Cheers - John



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Big Gorilla


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I suppose in the days these bases were built, not a lot of thought was given to their strategic use. The main thrust of our air defences today are in the north, the thinking being this is the area, to our north, where any attack my come. Darwin was our main base which is a joint user airfield, military and civilian, but Tindal has taken over the military role and that's where I suspect future development might be.



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03_troopy


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I spent 2 years there in the early 70's, and then again from 1990 to 1994. What about the rest of the base though, the old RADS building etc, is it abandoned also? I remember they going to put Support Command (except called something else?) in there after we closed the old Radio School.

 

Edit: That's right, they renamed it Logistics Command..



-- Edited by 03_troopy on Monday 29th of September 2014 06:39:31 PM

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Vic41


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Vic41 wrote:

What's with the zig zag floor or floor and ceiling bearers Cloak, any idea, or what was parked in there?  Chopper?  Fire Truck?....confuse

Anyone got any idea about the zig/zag bearers or whatever they are??? confuse 



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03_troopy


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sorry Vic, not a clue.. lol

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Cloak


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The captions on the pics call it a baffle room, part of jet engine testing.

There was no engine testing done while I was there. During the 70's, early 80's the base was mostly a radio school
and SURAD, a long range radar. The radar was switched off in about 1980 I think. I worked in the PMEL labs down
near the RadSchool and also at the altitude test chamber at Point Cook just down the road.

Yeah even though I was the base safety dude on Oxygen systems, months and months would go by before we
got any visiting aircraft drop in.

Not many people know this but hidden away down the back is a small building with a big radar dish that is owned and
operated by the BOM and is Melbournes main rain / weather radar. At least it was back then.

In it's day that base had a fantastic airman's mess, we ate like kings... hahaha I bet they are outsourced to Mcdonalds now.


Oh yeah it was all for nothing by the looks of things.

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Baz421


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Big Gorilla wrote:

Seems to me a waste of a good airport, but I guess it's outdated, needs a lot of maintenance and repair. The runways are far too short for any modern aircraft. It's also probably too close to the built up area.  I recall when Tullarmarine opened. It was in an isolated area with 24 hour operation. As you fly into Tullermarine today you can see the houses creeping up to the airport boundaries. Soon the residents of nearby housing will be screaming for it to be closed between  11 p.m. and 6 a.m.because of noise.

You hit the nail on the head BG,,, they wanted to expand airfield but too close to Tullamarine and Avalon and Point Cook so no airspace to do anything with. In 1972 we climbed out of Laverton in an A model, round and round overhead to about 18,000 feet before setting course,,, the civvy ATC giving the RAAF a hard time because we wanted to fly non air routes at times and they didn't like shortcuts,,, preferred the railway line mentality, even with good radar coverage.



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Vic41


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Cloak wrote:  (Re zig zag on floor and roof of one room)...

Snip......The captions on the pics call it a baffle room, part of jet engine testing.

.................................................................................................................................................

Thanks Cloak, having been in sound proof engine test rooms for normal auto engines I can only imagine how much noise must have been generated in a closed jet engine test room hmm

 

 



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