Australian Capital Territory

Location: Majura - Building 56 (School of Instruction) RAAF Base Fairburn

Threat:     Demolition

The School of Instruction Building, facing Point Cook Avenue, has remained an intrinsic and essential part of the Fairburn Base since its construction in 1940. Its proposed demolition to make way for a new facility would destroy not only this significant structure, but would also damage the integrity of this important defence site.

The layout of the base as set out in 1939 remains intact, illustrating the separation of functions and the social organization of the RAAF. Many of its individual buildings and its planning, scale and landscape characteristics are under threat from demolition and inappropriate redevelopment.

Building 56 is a single storey gabled timber building, displaying the work of the noted Commonwealth architect Cuthbert Whitely, and demonstrating the functional and design characteristics particular to its era. It is one of only three remaining such structures.

The building utilised a camera obscura to project images from the upper level to the ground floor for bomber pilot training during WW2. These activities are well documented in the collections of the Australian War Memorial, and indicate the essential role of the Fairburn Base in the Australian defence effort. Following the War, Building 56 functioned as the Base Headquarters, and currently houses the Defence Photographic and Public Relations Unit.

The Commonwealth Government should immediately commission a Heritage Management Plan for Fairburn Base, and should seek alternative sites for its new facility. Building 56 should be retained and continue to be utilised as at present, as an integral part of the Base site.