Parafield Aviation Heritage Centre opens
Thursday 12 April, 2018
Parafield Airport is today celebrating 90 years of aviation history with the official opening of the Parafield Aviation Heritage Centre.
Housed in the old fire station building on Kings Road, the Centre includes memorabilia and historical accounts from Parafield Airport and South Australia’s early aviation pioneers.
Managing Director, Mark Young, said Parafield Airport was Adelaide’s main aerodrome from 1927 to 1955. It was a port of call in early transcontinental air races, and welcomed Queen Elizabeth II during her Australian Coronation tour in 1954.
“The idea of the Parafield Aviation Heritage Centre is to display items showcasing key themes and events that have occurred at Parafield Airport over the past 90 years,” Mr Young said.
“The old airport fire station has turned out to be the perfect location. We anticipate the Centre will become a focal visitor attraction for the northern suburbs and an educational hub for school groups to learn more about Parafield Airport’s rich history.
“A significant number of aviation and heritage experts have provided their support over the past year to create what you see today and I congratulate everyone who has played a part in bringing this project to fruition.”
Mr Young said Parafield Airport had put the call out for volunteers with a keen interest in aviation history to help run the Centre, with a number of local community members keen to be involved.
Parafield Airport also would like to hear from anyone who may have their own piece of aviation history from the past 90 years and may be willing to donate or loan their memorabilia to the Centre.
History:
Parafield Airport was first used as an “all over” aerodrome in 1927, when Miller Aviation Company (later MacRobertson Miller Airways in Western Australia) and Australian Aerial Services moved from “the main aerodrome” at Albert Park. Later that year, on 26 November 1927, the Royal Aero Club of South Australia built a hangar at Parafield, and bought two aircraft for passenger and training purposes.
On May 29, 1929 two De Havilland Hercules Airlines, carrying 21 passengers, arrived at Parafield from Perth on the inaugural flight of the East-West Service. On October 1, 1929, 16 aircraft landed at Parafield in the course of the East-West Air Race from Sydney to Perth.
