Tolarno Station Airport

Menindee, AU 🇦🇺 Closed Airport

ICAO

AU-0484

IATA

-

Elevation

200 ft

Region

AU-NSW

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -32.78078° N, 142.42492° E

Continent: OC

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 24, 2025
Closure Date

Unknown. As a private pastoral station airstrip, it did not have an official, documented closure date. It likely fell into disuse gradually over many years, possibly in the late 20th or early 21st century, as its operational need declined. Satellite imagery confirms it has been abandoned for a significant period.

Reason for Closure

Economic and logistical obsolescence. The airstrip was a private facility serving Tolarno Station. Its closure is attributable to a combination of factors common to such remote airstrips: improved road transport to the region, the high cost of aircraft operation and maintenance, and changes in the station's ownership or operational model that removed the need for a private air link. The closure was not the result of a specific incident, accident, or military conversion.

Current Status

The site is completely abandoned and unusable for aviation. High-resolution satellite imagery shows the faint, overgrown outlines of two intersecting dirt runways. The land has reverted to scrub and is now indistinguishable from the surrounding pastoral landscape of Tolarno Station. There are no remaining aviation facilities like hangars or fuel depots.

Historical Significance

The airstrip's significance was entirely local and logistical, providing a critical connection for the vast and isolated Tolarno Station. In its active years, it would have been essential for:
- **Personnel Transport:** Moving station owners, managers, and specialized staff (like shearers or mechanics) quickly to and from regional centers like Broken Hill or Mildura.
- **Supply Chain:** Flying in urgent mail, perishable goods, and critical spare parts for farm equipment.
- **Emergency Services:** Potentially used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for medical emergencies, providing a much faster alternative to ground transport.
Operations would have exclusively involved light general aviation aircraft, such as single-engine Cessnas and Pipers, capable of landing on short, unpaved runways.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening this airstrip. The logistical need for a private strip at this specific location is considered non-existent. The nearby public Menindee Airport (ICAO: YMED) serves the general aviation needs of the wider region. Re-establishing the Tolarno Station airstrip would require significant investment for clearing, grading, and marking, with no apparent economic or practical justification.

Nearby Airports

Willara Airport
AU-0485
Menindee, AU
Closed Airport
~6 km away
Bindara Airstrip
AU-0381
Menindee, AU
Small Airport
~8 km away
Menindee Number 2 Airport
AU-0380
Menindee, AU
Small Airport
~9 km away
Menindee Number 3 Airport
AU-0389
Menindee, AU
Small Airport
~17 km away
Karoola Airport
AU-0379
Menindee, AU
Small Airport
~18 km away
Bono Station Airport
AU-0385
Menindee, AU
Small Airport
~24 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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