Latrobe, AU 🇦🇺 Closed Airport
AU-0694
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12 ft
AU-TAS
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: -41.235188° N, 146.39617° E
Continent: OC
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: LTB LTB
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Circa mid-to-late 1930s. The closure was not a single event but a gradual phasing out as air services progressively relocated to the new, superior Pardoe Aerodrome (now Devonport Airport) nearby.
The aerodrome was rendered obsolete and superseded by the development of the nearby Pardoe Aerodrome (now Devonport Airport, YDPO). The new location offered better all-weather capabilities, superior ground for runway construction, and more space for expansion to accommodate larger aircraft and growing commercial operations. The original Latrobe site was reportedly prone to flooding from the adjacent Mersey River, making it unreliable for scheduled services.
The original site of the Latrobe Aerodrome has been completely repurposed over the last 80+ years. The land, located on the southern outskirts of Latrobe, is now used for agricultural and light industrial purposes. Satellite imagery of the coordinates shows farmland and large industrial sheds. There are no visible remnants of the original runway or any airport infrastructure. The region's aviation needs are fully served by the modern Devonport Airport (YDPO/DPO), located a few kilometers to the north.
The Latrobe Aerodrome holds a significant place in Australian aviation history as one of Tasmania's earliest airfields. Its primary importance stems from being the original home base for Holyman's Airways, founded in 1932 by brothers Victor and Ivan Holyman. This pioneering airline began operations from this field, establishing some of the first regular commercial air services in Tasmania. Holyman's Airways grew rapidly and in 1936 merged to become the foundation of Australian National Airways (ANA), which for decades was Australia's largest domestic airline before it was eventually acquired by Ansett in 1957. Therefore, this small airfield was the cradle of an airline that shaped Australian commercial aviation. The ICAO code 'AU-0694' is a non-official identifier, likely from a historical airport database, as the airfield was closed long before the modern ICAO system was fully implemented.
There are absolutely no plans or prospects for reopening the original Latrobe Aerodrome. Its function was permanently and more effectively replaced by Devonport Airport. The original land has been fully redeveloped, and there is no economic, logistical, or aviation-related need for a second airport in such close proximity.
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