RAAF’s Base Williams at Point Cook set for demolition by Defence Department as National Trust calls for halt

The Defence department has been accused of neglecting an RAAF base to make way for bulldozers as advocates call for intervention to protect Australia’s military history.

The Department of Defence is proposing to remove 19 buildings from the Royal Australian Air Force Point Cook Base, known as RAAF Base Williams, the original home of Australia’s air force in1921.Picture: Supplied

Historic facilities at the first home of the Australian air force could be flattened as advocates call for urgent government intervention to stop a “demolition by neglect”.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Point Cook base, in Melbourne’s west — also known as RAAF Base Williams — has been a significant site for Australia’s military and aviation history since it was built in 1914.

But now 19 buildings that were essential to Australia’s war effort during WWII could be levelled by the Department of Defence in order to reduce maintenance costs, according to the National Trust.

The base was constructed in 1914 and although the airfield has been decommissioned by the RAAF, the base continues to play an active role 110 years later. Picture: Supplied

The facilities flagged for demolition include Australia’s possibly last remaining World War II British-built hangars, along with the armament store erected between the wars.

Australian Council of National Trusts chair Lachlan Molesworth said the site was the original home of Australia’s air force in 1921 and pilots flying overhead often felt like they had stepped into a time capsule.

Mr Molesworth believed the plans constituted the most significant contemporary affront to national heritage preservation.

Australian Council of National Trusts chair Lachlan Molesworth said historic buildings at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Point Cook Base were under threat by the Department of Defence. Picture: Supplied

“It’s one of the hidden treasures in Victoria, it holds a pivotal place in military and aviation history both nationally and international, this is where the decision were made at the heart of political and military strategy,” Mr Molesworth said.

“These building, 15 of which are considered to have some heritage significance, could be bowled over ostensibly for an empty patch of land, it's not as if they would be replaced with new facilities to increase capability, it’s quite extraordinary.

“We’re very worried the maintenance tap was turned off so as to get to a condition where there was no argument and the only option was to knock these buildings down.”

The Defence Department is proposing to demolish 19 buildings, 15 of which were identified to have some heritage significance. Picture: Supplied

Mr Molesworth said the The National Trust of Australia and the Australian Council of National Trusts was calling on the federal government to intervene and ensure the preservation of the site.

The National Trust’s Victorian interim chief executive Philip Martins said the National Trust classified the Point Cook RAAF Base at a level of international significance in 2004 and had worked with stakeholders to campaign for the protection of the site for more than 20 years.

The site is still used today by some squadrons and is Australia’s oldest air base. Picture: Supplied

“The National Trust has been campaigning against ‘demolition by neglect’ for many years … it is vital that all levels of heritage protection stand as a control that cannot be circumvented via deliberate disrepair,” Mr Martins said.

The site was included on the National Heritage List in 2007.

The National Trust intends to make a submission directly to the Department of Defence before its closing date tomorrow, Thursday April 11.

The Department of Defence was contacted for comment.