RAAF History on the Chopping Block

The federal government has confirmed that RAAF Base Point Cook will be fully divested as part of a major national overhaul of Australia’s defence estate, marking a historic turning point for one of the country’s most significant military sites.

The decision follows the release of the Delivering the Future Defence Estate audit, which found many Defence properties across Australia are under-utilised, expensive to maintain, or no longer aligned with modern strategic needs. As a result, dozens of Defence sites nationwide are set to be sold, partially sold, or reconfigured.

RAAF Base Point Cook is recognised as the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force, established in 1913 as Australia’s first military flying school. For more than a century, the base has played a central role in military aviation training, heritage preservation and Defence community life in Melbourne’s west.

WHAT DIVESTMENT MEANS FOR POINT COOK

Under the government’s plan, the Point Cook site will transition entirely out of Defence ownership. The base spans more than 300 hectares and includes an active airfield, heritage-listed buildings, Reserve and cadet training facilities, and the RAAF Museum.

Defence has indicated the divestment will occur progressively rather than through an immediate closure. Administrative personnel are expected to relocate to other Defence sites in Victoria or Melbourne, while units requiring airfield access will be transitioned to alternative bases on a case-by-case basis.

Cadet programs are expected to continue in the region, with Defence exploring options such as schools or community facilities to support ongoing training.

The future of the RAAF Museum remains a key focus for the local community. The museum houses one of Australia’s most significant collections of military aircraft and aviation artefacts. Defence has stated that heritage obligations will be central to the divestment process, with protections in place for heritage-listed buildings and options being explored to maintain public access to historically significant elements of the site.

Defence has confirmed the site contains Commonwealth and National Heritage listings, with heritage protections to apply as part of the divestment process.

LAVERTON PARTIALLY AFFECTED

Nearby RAAF Base Laverton will also be impacted by the reforms, though in a different way. Laverton has been earmarked for partial divestment, meaning Defence will retain key operational and capability functions while selling surplus land.

Defence activity is expected to continue at Laverton, ensuring an ongoing military presence in Melbourne’s west, even as Point Cook transitions out of Defence ownership.

OTHER BASES NATIONALLY

Point Cook and Laverton form part of a broader national reform affecting Defence sites across multiple states. The government has confirmed that 64 Defence sites will be fully divested and several others partially divested or retained, depending on strategic value.

Other sites identified nationally include former barracks, training depots and Defence properties in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Some locations have already been sold, while others are still in planning and assessment stages.

The government has stated that proceeds from all Defence land sales will be retained within the Defence portfolio and reinvested into priority infrastructure and capability projects, particularly in areas considered strategically critical.

IMPACT ON WYNDHAM

For Point Cook and the wider Wyndham community, the announcement represents a major shift. The base has long been a defining landmark and a visible reminder of the area’s national significance.

While heritage advocates and Defence families have raised concerns about the loss of a longstanding Defence presence, others see the divestment as a potential opportunity for future community use, public access or redevelopment — subject to planning controls and heritage protections.

Any future use of the land would require state planning approvals and consideration of existing heritage overlays.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The Department of Finance will manage the divestment process, with Defence expected to engage with stakeholders as planning progresses. No timeline has yet been confirmed for the sale of RAAF Base Point Cook or for partial land releases at Laverton.

For Point Cook, the decision signals the beginning of a significant transition — closing one of the most historic chapters in Australian military aviation, while opening an uncertain new chapter for one of Wyndham’s most iconic sites.