Petrie Airfield (A3)

Urban Encroachment and Redevelopment. The land occupied by the airfield was acquired for a major master-planned urban development project. The value of the land for residential, commercial, and educational purposes far outweighed its use as a private airfield, leading to its permanent closure to make way for the new community.

The site has been completely and irreversibly transformed. It is now the location of 'The Mill at Moreton Bay,' a major urban renewal project. The former airstrip land is now occupied by the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) Moreton Bay campus, a public library, community facilities, parklands, and extensive residential and commercial construction. All physical traces of the airfield, including the runway and hangars, have been demolished and erased.

Petrie Airfield, more commonly known as Lawnton Airfield or Lonergan's Airstrip, was a privately owned grass airstrip that served the general aviation community north of Brisbane for several decades. It was a popular hub for recreational flyers, private aircraft owners, and flight training operations. The airfield primarily handled light single-engine aircraft such as Cessnas and Pipers. It played a vital role for local aviation enthusiasts but was distinct from and should not be confused with the larger, nearby ex-military Strathpine Airfield from the World War II era. Operations were informal, characteristic of many small, private Australian airfields that supported a local flying community before urban expansion.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. The comprehensive and high-density redevelopment of the site for educational, residential, and commercial use makes any future aviation activity impossible. The closure is permanent.