Ashburton Downs Homestead Airstrip

The primary reason for its closure was operational redundancy and replacement. A newer, larger, and better-equipped all-weather airstrip, Ashburton Aerodrome (ICAO: YASH), was established approximately 4.5 kilometers to the southeast of the old homestead strip. All aviation operations for the homestead and surrounding mining/exploration activities were consolidated to this superior facility, making the original, shorter dirt strip obsolete.

The site of the former airstrip is completely disused and unmaintained. Satellite imagery shows a faint, degraded outline of the old runway being reclaimed by the natural landscape. The surface is eroded, overgrown with sparse vegetation, and crossed by vehicle tracks. It is not a functional aviation facility and is now just part of the surrounding station paddock.

The Ashburton Downs Homestead Airstrip was historically significant as a vital logistical lifeline for the remote pastoral station. For decades, it served as the primary connection to the outside world. Operations were typical for an outback station and included:
- **Supply and Mail Runs:** Light aircraft delivered mail, food, and essential supplies.
- **Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS):** The strip was a critical access point for medical emergencies, patient transport, and remote clinics.
- **Personnel Transport:** Station owners, managers, workers, and visitors were flown in and out.
- **Agricultural Aviation:** It supported station operations such as aerial mustering (herding cattle with light aircraft or helicopters) and property inspections.
Its existence was fundamental to the safety, social well-being, and economic viability of the homestead in an era before reliable all-weather roads or modern telecommunications.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening this airstrip. Its role has been permanently and effectively superseded by the active and superior Ashburton Aerodrome (YASH) nearby. Reinstating the old strip would serve no practical purpose and would be economically unviable given the existence of the new facility.