Interestingly, Archerfield Airport began as farmland. Thomas Grenier purchased the land in 1855. He called it Oomoropilly. Today, we know it as Archerfield Airport. This airport stands as a testament to Brisbane’s aviation history. It is located just 11kms from the Brisbane CBD.
Archerfield Airport officially opened on 1 April 1931. Qantas moved its operations here from Eagle Farm. The Queensland Aero Club followed suit. They moved from Eagle Farm to Archerfield in 1931.
For a time, Archerfield was Brisbane’s primary airport. Now, it serves as the city’s secondary airport. Archerfield remains Queensland’s major center for general aviation.
During World War II, Archerfield Airport transformed into a military hub. The Royal Australian Air Force called it RAAF Station Archerfield. The United States Army Air Forces also used the base. Even the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm was stationed here. Plaques in the old administration building commemorate their service.
Archerfield became a vital logistics and maintenance center. Aircraft arrived from the United States at Brisbane’s port. They were transported to Archerfield for assembly and repair. The 44th Depot Repair Squadron worked tirelessly. They prepared aircraft like P-38 Lightnings and B-24 Liberators for combat.
Several USAAF units were assigned to Archerfield during the war. The 7th Bombardment Group was briefly stationed here. The 3rd Bombardment Group also passed through. Additionally, the 22nd and 38th Bombardment Groups used Archerfield.
After the war, Ansett ANA and Trans Australia Airlines moved to Eagle Farm Airport. Archerfield then resumed its role as a civil aviation airport.
In 1998, the Federal Airports Corporation leased Archerfield to the Archerfield Airport Corporation. Today, Archerfield is mainly used for civil aviation. The Queensland Government Air Rescue helicopter flights operate from here. The Queensland Police Service POLAIR flights are based here too. Plus, No. 219 Squadron of the Australian Air Force Cadets calls Archerfield home. The Royal Queensland Aero Club is still in its original hangar.
Archerfield Aerodrome was Brisbane’s commercial airport from 1931 until 1949. It is linked to aviation pioneers such as Charles Kingsford Smith and Lores Bonney.
In 1934, Charles Kingsford Smith and P.G. Taylor departed from Archerfield. They made the first trans-Pacific flight from Australia to the US. Queensland aviator Lores Bonney flew from Archerfield Aerodrome on Boxing Day 1931. She set a new Australian record for the longest distance flown in a day. On 10 April 1933, Bonney left from Archerfield. This was the start of the first solo flight by a woman from Australia to England.
The Dutch connection to Archerfield is also noteworthy. After the Netherlands East Indies fell to Japan in 1942, Brisbane became home to the NEI Government-in-Exile. Archerfield became a key airport for the Dutch war effort.
Significant buildings include the 1941 terminal building. Several interwar hangars and two World War II hangars are still standing. These structures reflect the airport’s functionalist style.
The Archerfield Airport Corporation is planning infrastructure upgrades. These upgrades include improvements to the main runway and taxiway. The airfield lighting system will also be modernized. The Eastern Apron will be reconfigured for Code C aircraft.
Today, Archerfield Airport continues to serve Brisbane. It supports general aviation and preserves its rich history. As you explore Archerfield, remember the pioneers and the wartime heroes who shaped its legacy.