FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITE
10 WILLIAMS DRIVE FULHAM, WELLINGTON SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
This site is significant to the Sale region for its association with the former World War II RAAF Base, Bombing Gunnery School and Air Gunnery School. This site also represents Victorian's significant contribution to aviation and military heritage, particularly the important role Victoria played in the training of air force personnel during World War II. This site has the potential for research based on several of Victoria's Framework of Historical Themes (Heritage Victoria, 2019), including:
Theme 03 - Connecting Victorians by transport and communications. Of this theme, the following sub-themes are identified for further exploration:
3.6 Linking Victorians by air
Theme 07 - Governing Victorians. Of this theme, the following sub-themes are identified for further exploration:
7.4 Defending Victoria and Australia
It is also important to note that although not yet 75 years old, this Place also holds value for its use as a Displaced Person's camp in the years following World War II both to the town of Sale and the greater Gippsland area, and also to the descendents of those who lived there.
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FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITE - History
Historic Parish Plans indicate that one of the first leasees of the property was a pastoralist by the name of "Pearson", however; the property originally formed part of the 16,000 acre "Fulham" squatting run, taken up by Peter Imlay in the 1840s (Synan, 2002: 37). From December 1941, the No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School was established in West Sale and was later renamed the Air Gunnery School. In particular, 10 Williams Drive formed an integral component of the West Sale RAAF Base, accommodating the living quarters, men and women's bathroom blocks, mess halls, sports grounds and other features associated with the base. The dwelling located within the north of the property served as the nurse's station during this time.
In 1945 the RAAF base converted into a civil airfield and from 1949 until 1953 the barracks within the property were utilised as a Displaced Persons Migrant Holding Centre, accommodating families from Europe (specifically Germany, eastern Europe and the Baltic states) who had been displaced during World War II. The centre largely housed women and children, who's husbands worked on infrastructure projects in the greater Gippsland area during the week.
The former nurse's station ('Raeshaw') was then utilised as the home of the Director and Headmaster of the Migrant Holding Centre. Activities which occurred on-site during this time included classes, a pre-school, dances, plays, and sports facilities.FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITE - Interpretation of Site
During recording, at least 33 building foundations associated with theformer RAAF base were recorded or observed (allocated 'H' for 'Historic'on attached map), in addition to a number of other features such asdrainage facilities, gravel driveways/access points and outdoorfoundations. These mostly comprised of concrete slabs set into theground surface, however at least three examples of a concrete slabsitting atop concrete foundations (around the 'outline' of thebuildings) were also observed. One extant building (the house 'Raeshaw'as discussed previously) is also present and currently serves as thedwelling of the landowner.
Building locations were compared with early plans of the RAAF base provided by the land owner. The foundations for some of the following structures were identified:
- Airmens laundry and boiler house;
- Airmens Ablution and latrine;
- Trainees Ablution and latrine;
- Trainees
- Airmens paved sport area; - Gymnasium; - Boiler room;
- Airmens mess;
- Incinerator and compound;
- Drying hut;
- WAAAF changing rooms;
- Canteen;
- Sick quarters and associated structures;
- Fumigation hut;
- Barracks office and store; and
- Fuel Storage facility
The concrete foundations appear to be for wet areas (or areas which required plumbing) such as laundries, latrines, and shower blocks.
The locations of former (and probably pre-fab or portable) structures which have since been removed are visible both on the ground (as large rectangular depressions or rises) and in aerial photographs. Early plans of the RAAF base provided by the land owner indicate that these features represent the following:- Airmen's sleeping huts;
- Trainee's sleeping quarters; Similar rises and depressions representing the former locations of structures were also identified to the east of the north-south driveway, which are also evident within the landscape and in aerial photography. Early plans of the RAAF base provided by the land owner indicate that these features represent:
- Seargents mess and sleeping quarters
- Sergents paved sport arena;
- Officers sleeping quarters; and - Officers mess
Furthermore, concrete and asphalt paving (e.g. for possible paths or open areas) was present to the eastern side of the driveway. This paving is considered to be in poor condition and its extent is unknown. Further archaeological investigation may be able to provide additional data. A large pile of broken concrete slabs, ceramic plumbing, corrugated iron and other artefacts such as plain whiteware and glass fragments is also located in the south-eastern corner of the property and may represent the remains of these eastern (or other) structures. Additionally, approximately a dozen historical features (allocated 'HF' for 'Historic Feature' on the attached map) including drains and drainage features were recorded or observed, indicating that drains and pipes are likely still present under the ground surface. These features also include a domed well located immediately adjacent (south) to 'Raeshaw'. A few areas of archaeological potential were observed:
- The domed well -this was observed to be at least 1.5m in diameter but not recorded in depth as it was within the fenced and gated boundary of a private dwelling;
- The large pile of rubble to the south-east of the property and associated surface artefact scatter;
- Location around around 'H3', as historic ceramic and glass was located on the surface surrounding these foundations;
- the areas of former buildings where depressions or rises in the ground surface are observed
- particularly where plans suggest accommodation/living quarters, and the hall (where dining, events and other community activities took place).
The structures which are represented by concrete foundations present the opportunity for further research, such as military building design, and gender segregation associated with the Military during World War II (it is known that the WAAAF - the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force- were also present at this site during World War II).
An exploration of what might remain within any extant drains may also offer valuable information, should these be removed from the site in the future.Additionally, potential research opportunities may present in and around the kitchen and mess areas, such as investigation into military diets and analysis of glass bottle pieces that were obvserved during the field survey
FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITE - Archaeological Significance
Documentary evidence indicates the site originally formed part of the 16,000 acre "Fulham" squatting run, taken up by Peter Imlay during the 1840s. From December 1941, the No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School (later renamed the Air Gunnery School) was established in West Sale. The site formed an integral component of the West Sale RAAF Base, accommodating the living quarters, men and women's bathroom blocks, mess halls, sports grounds and other features associated with the base. The dwelling located within the north of the property served as the nurse's station during this time. In 1945 the RAAF base converted into a civil airfield and from 1949 until 1953 the barracks within the property were utilised as a Displaced Persons Migrant Holding Centre. It is evident from plans and ground surface features that the accommodation/living quarters, mess hall, sports arena, domed well, drainage features and outbuilding remains that could potentially be identified through sub-surface investigations. The current site comprising of three Lots is currently a series of fenced paddocks with multiple concrete building foundations, a residence (Raeshaw) and has identified historical artefacts. Although most of the site demonstrates that there is potential for historical archaeological features, deposits and artefacts which are 75 or more years old, it is important to note while not yet 75 years old, the Displaced Person's camp phase holds archaeological value.
FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITE - Historical Significance
This site is significant to the Sale region for its association with the former World War II RAAF Base, Bombing Gunnery School and Air Gunnery School. This site represents Victorian's contribution to aviation and military heritage, particularly the important role Victoria played in the training of air force personnel during World War II. The site presents the opportunity for further research, such as military building design, military diets and gender segregation associated with the Military during World War II. It can also aid in our understanding of the pastoral practices during the early development of the Gippsland region, prior to military establishment.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
The site is located approximately 11 km to the west of the town of Sale and sits to the immediate east of the West Sale Airport. The site comprises three Lots and is currently a series of fenced paddocks with multiple concrete building foundations visible within the ground and in aerial photographs. The site has recently been used for sheep grazing and also includes a shearing shed (the land owner Michael communicated that this shed had been relocated to the site from elsewhere, however RAAF base plans indicate a wool shed at the same location). The eastern paddocks within Lot 3/TP321460 (apart from the locations of former structures to the immediate east of the driveway) have been ploughed regularly in the recent past, however it does not appear that any land to the west of the driveway (within Lot 1/TP321460 and Lot 2/TP321460) has been ploughed or otherwise disturbed (apart from the removal of the RAAF/Migrant Centre structures) since the 1950s. A north-south driveway is located to the to the middle of the site, which runs north to a residential dwelling ('Raeshaw'). This driveway was also the main entry point for both the RAAF living quarters and then the Migrant Holding Centre.
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FORMER WEST SALE RAAF BASE SITEVictorian Heritage Inventory
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