RAAF Base Williams

Laverton and Point Cook, Melbourne, Victoria

The Royal Australian Air Force's RAAF Base Williams comprises two bases 20kms south-west of Melbourne at Laverton (just inland) and Point Cook (on Port Phillip Bay). Each has a proud place in Australia's military aviation history, Point Cook as the birthplace of the Air Force and oldest continually-operating military airfield in the world, and Laverton as the Air Force's third base (since 1925, just after RAAF Base Richmond outside Sydney). The RAAF Museum is housed at Point Cook and the Air Force Band work from Laverton.

Operations at both bases have been reduced in recent times as the Australian Defence Force has concentrated on defending Australia's northern approaches. The two bases were merged into one in 1999 and the Laverton airfield was sold off for suburban development. The main function of the two bases now is training.

• Air Force Training Group
  • RAAF College
    • Officers' Training School
  • ADF School of Languages
  • Defence International Training Centre - cultural and military familiarisation training for foreign military personnel training in Australia
• No 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron - Air Force Reserve
• No 1 Airfield Defence Squadron Detachment Williams - Airfield Defence Guards
• Combat Support Unit Williams - base managers
• RAAF Museum
• Air Force Band

Public access

Public access to RAAF Bases is not generally permitted. All visitors must be signed in and wear their visitor's pass at all times. Please contact the security guards for further information.

An exception is the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, which you are welcome to visit.

Contact

RAAF Base Williams
Maher Street
Laverton VIC 3027

Call 1300 DEFENCE and ask for Williams Air Force Base.

Call +61 2 6265 9111 for international callers.