Point Cook RAAF Museum

The RAAF base at Point Cook was Australia’s first such institution, being established in 1921. It is claimed to be the oldest continually operating military base in the world. The Aviation Museum is regarded as the finest in Australia, said to house the largest collection of military aircraft in the Southern Hemisphere , with items dating back to 1916. Some of the vintage craft are still in operating condition and are sometimes flown for visitors of the museum. The museum also has “interactive airfield events” on a daily basis. For information on forthcoming events ring the info line on (1902) 240 553.

Extensive displays of memorabilia relate to the history of the RAAF, of Point Cook, and the role of women in Australia’s 20th century military conflicts. There are numerous special exhibits, including onon World War 1 flying ace, Baron von Richtofen, The Red Baron.

The museum is located at the end of Point Cook Road, Point Cook, and is open from 10.00am to 3.00pm from Tuesday to Friday and from 10.00am to 5.00pm on weekends and public holidays. Guided tours are available on weekdays, bookings for tours can be made during business hours on Tel. (03) 9256 1300.

Recorded information is available by ringing (1902) 240 553, the museum shop can be contacted on 9256 1040.


About 200 metres before you reach the RAAF base, as you head south along Point Cook Road, there is a turnoff to the left that takes you into Point Cook Coastal Park, a well maintained and landscaped wetlands park that represents one of the last relatively unspoiled reef ecosystems in Port Phillip bay. It possesses a substantial lookout tower, picnic shelters, free gas barbeques, two children’s playgrounds, change rooms, clean toilets and paved walkways to an unspoilt shore which boasts a swimming beach, walking trails and a plentitude of birdlife that can be observed from the Spectacle Lakes bird hide or the Cheetham Wetlands Tower. The latter provides views over a series of ponds populated in summer months by birds migrating from the Northern Hemisphere for the winter, including from Siberia and Alaska. These ponds were used between the 1920’s and 1990’s by a company which used them to extract salt by evaporation.

An information centre operates at the beach picnic area and a touch tank allows visitors to get a closer look at the local marine life.
Disabled facilities, with designated parking spaces, toilets and wheelchair accessible paths to the beach and bird hide.
The park is open daily from 8.00am to 5.00pm on weekdays in winter (opening 8.30am on weekends) with hours extended to 8.00pm in summer.

Enquiries call; (03) 9395 1132, Parks Victoria Information Centre on 1319 63 or visit their web at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au


Once you are in the park grounds there is a sign posted turnoff on the left , then a right turn onto Point Cook Homestead Road (gravel) which leads to the historic Point Cook Homestead and stables, on the edge of Port Phillip Bay. This large, single storey bluestone house was built in stages From around 1850 to 1857 for Thomas Chirnside, who used It as a family residence until the completion of Werribee Mansion Mansion, the whole area once being part of the Chirnside Estate. The homestead is essentially Classical in style, but each Wing dates from a different period and hence there is some variety of design.

The substantial single storey stables were constructed in a vernacular fashion, prior to 1861 of random coursed bluestone, and were the birth place of a number of Melbourne Cup,Caulfield Cup and Derby winners, the Chirnside family being importers and breeders of quality bloodstock.

The Homestead is open to the public for a fee from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on weekdays and until 5.00pm on weekends. There are educational tours, picnic, barbeque and kiosk facilities.

The restaurant is open nightly and the Homestead, which now boasts it own bed & breakfast, can also host conference and function facilities, wedding receptions and gatherings.

You can contact Point Cook Homestead to find out more of what they have to offer on (03) 9395 7501.
Web site: www.pointcookhomestead.com

GETTING THERE: The simplest way to find these wonderful attractions is to take the Point Cook Road Exit off the Princes Freeway at the western edge of Laverton and follow the signs. Alternatively, follow Duncan’s Road out of Werribee, cross over the freeway, turn left into Aviation Road and, At its end, turn right into Point Cook Road.
Public transport is available daily from Flinders Street station on board the Werribee Park Shuttle which takes in the Werribee Mansion, RAAF Museum, the Point Cook Homestead and the Coastal Park. Bookings are essential and can be made on: (03) 9748 5094.