Laverton Aerodrome

The RAAF's third oldest base, Laverton Aerodrome was decommissioned in 1996, with the last flight taking place on February 1998 by a DeHavilland Vampire. The base was host to many popular postwar airshows and today operates as an administrative base. The airfield itself is slowly disappearing under the new suburb of Williams Landing.

An Avro Anson takes off from the grass field at Laverton Aerodrome. 13-4-1940

Today the site is being redeveloped into the suburb of 'Williams Landing'. July 2013

A Dehavilland 'Rapide' Biplane sits on the apron at Laverton Aerodrome. 1940

Looking in the same general direction today. July 2013

A Douglas C47 jet assisted take-off in preparation for ARDU Antarctic Operations. Laverton, June 1959.

The same location in 2007, looking north along runway 35. The last flight from Laverton Aerodrome was in February 1998.

Diggers Rest Land Headquarters Signals Hut

Diggers Rest Land Headquarters Signals Hut, 1945

The Land Signals Hut as it appears today, now used for storage. 2012

Wartime Melbourne - Then & Now

Shot of Melbourne Town Hall showing advertising used for promotion
of war and savings loans. 

Melbourne Town Hall today. 

Sand-bag barricades at the Russell St Police Barracks. 1942

Former Russell St Police Headquarters, today a cafe and modern apartment complex. 

Windows at the General Post Office barricaded by brick walls. 

Former General Post Office today, now the Mail Exchange Hotel. 

Slit trenches in the lawns of the Shrine of Rememberance. 

Shrine of Rememberance slit trench site today. 

Former Camp Pell Army Hut

The Army Huts located at Camp Pell were sold off to sporting and public groups in 1956 when the camp was closed and returned to public land. This hut is located in Thornbury and is now a Scouts Hall.

Former Camp Pell Army Hut, now a scouts hall in Thornbury. 

One of the typical Camp Pell Army style huts used for public emergency housing post war. 

Camp Pell (Royal Park) - Then & Now Pt.II

Entrance to Camp Pell Leave and Transit Depot, 1945.

The entrance to the Leave and Transit Depot, today grassland of  Royal Park. 

Post war emergency housing at Camp Pell, formerley the Leave and Transit Depot. 1950's.

The same site at Royal Park today, reclaimed by bushland. 

An AWAS member discharged from the General Duties Depot walks past the
guard post at Camp Pell for the last time.  13-5-1946

The same scene along Brens Drive today. The State Hockey Centre
 located in the background. 

Relatives and friends wait at the main gates of the General Duties Depot
at Camp Pell awaiting the arrival of repatriated Australian Prisoners of War.  25-7-1945

The site of the General Duties Depot entrance today, now Brens Drive.

A Red Cross bus conveys repatriated Australian Prisoners of War along the drive
of the Royal Park General Duties Depot (Camp Pell).  25-07-1945

Brens Drive today, not much has changed. 

The Red Cross Societies hut welcomes friends and relatives of repatriated
prisoners of war at the Royal Park General Duties Depot.  25-7-1945

The Red Cross Society hut still exists today as 'Anzac Hall' and is used as an
Urban Camp for   regional schools visiting Melbourne. 

Repatriated Australian Prisoners of War soon after arrival at the
General Duties Depot, Royal Park.  25-7-1945

Site of the General Duties Depot, now the entrance to the State Hockey Centre. 

Camp Pell (Royal Park) - Then & Now

Camp Pell was a large US Army base during WW2 located at Royal Park, Melbourne, Australia. At its peak the camp accommodated 15,000 servicemen. After the war Camp Pell became emergency housing for homeless families and was noted for its less than standard living conditions. The army camp was finally closed in 1956 with the area being returned to public land for the Melbourne Olympic Games held that year.

Camp Pell Officers Barracks, situated north of Macarthur Rd. 1944

Officers Barracks today, a sports oval. 

Camp Pell Headquarters Administration Area with the Transport Office
located in the centre of the picture. 20/10/1944

The view today along Macarthur Rd where the Headquarters Administration
area was once located. 

The Headquarters and Administration Area showing the Ration Office
(mid-foreground) and the Transport Office to the extreme right. 

The Headquarters Administration Area site today. Only Macarthur Rd and
 the Palm Tree to the right of the picture remain. 

The Headquarters Administration Area from the Parade Ground. 1944 

 Headquarters and Administration Area as it appears today. 

Camp Pell facing south-west from Macarthur Rd. 1944

Today an open park albeit slightly overgrown.

1944 image of the Leave & Transit Depot Administration Huts. 

The Leave & Transit Depot as it appears in 2013.

Burke & Wills monument with Camp Pell in the background. 1944

The Burke & Wills monument today.