Williamsdale Airport

NoneAU 🇦🇺 Closed Airport

ICAO

AU-0682

IATA

-

Elevation

2345 ft

Region

AU-ACT

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -35.559393° N, 149.130177° E

Continent: OC

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: YWLE YWLE

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

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 24, 2025
Closure Date

Early 2015. The primary user, the Canberra Gliding Club, ceased all operations at the site and finalized its relocation to Bunyan Airfield (near Cooma, NSW) by March 2015.

Reason for Closure

Land use conversion for renewable energy development. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, which owned the land, terminated the airfield's lease to facilitate the construction of the Williamsdale Solar Farm. The closure was a direct result of a government initiative to meet its renewable energy targets and was not due to economic failure, declining activity, or safety issues related to the airport's operation.

Current Status

The site has been completely redeveloped and is now the location of the Williamsdale Solar Farm. The runways, hangars, and all other airfield infrastructure have been removed and replaced by a large-scale photovoltaic power station. The 11-megawatt facility, developed by the French company Neoen, features approximately 40,000 solar panels and began supplying electricity to the grid in late 2017.

Historical Significance

Williamsdale Airport was a private airstrip whose primary significance was serving as the home base for the Canberra Gliding Club for over 50 years. It was a crucial hub for recreational aviation in the Canberra region, supporting glider pilot training, regular club flying days, and hosting numerous regional and national gliding competitions. It was not a commercial airport and did not handle scheduled passenger or cargo flights. Its operations were centered on unpowered flight (gliding) and associated tow planes, making it a vital community and sporting asset.

Reopening Prospects

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Williamsdale Airport. The site is occupied by a long-term, high-value infrastructure project with an operational lifespan of several decades. Reverting the land to an airfield is considered economically and logistically infeasible and has not been proposed by any official body.

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Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

User Comments Leave a comment

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Re: Not an airport Posted by prattsoplenty on July 18, 2011

The marker has been moved to the proposed location for this airport. The 2004 Operational Feasibility Assessment Report can be accessed here: http://members.pcug.org.au/~mikec/srcg/docs/airfield.pdf

Not an airport Posted by on July 18, 2011

This airport marker is centred on Mount Gibralter at Williamsdale which is the first line-up marker for Canberra airport approach.