Parkes

HARS Aviation Museum Parkes

The HARS Aviation Museum Parkes is located at the end of Muzycuk Drive at Parkes Airport. It is currently housed in a former RAAF Bellman hangar from the airport’s time as a World War II air force base.

Parkes has a long history in aviation, the first aircraft to land at Parkes was a Sopwith Camel piloted by aviation pioneer Sydney Pickles in 1919.

During World War II, Parkes airport became RAAF Base Parkes, accommodating No.1 Air Navigation School, No.2 Wireless Air Gunners School, No.8 Operational Training Unit (Spitfires) and after the war No.87 SQN (Mosquitos) operated from Parkes.

Did you know, former PM Gough Whitlam graduated from Parkes as a Flying Officer navigator?

Parkes Aero Club, formed in 1948, still operates from its historic ex-RAAF COMMCEN building.

Parkes has been used as a storage facility for the HARS Aviation Museum since 2015 and is currently being transformed into an aviation museum in its own right by a range of local and HARS volunteers.

Work has begun on developing a new museum site at the entry of Muzycuk Drive, with more space to provide additional protection and display space for restored aircraft and displays.

How To Get Here

By Road from Sydney

We are at least 360 km from Sydney, depending on the chosen route.

Expected journey time is about 5 hours.

A good navigation app will be helpful.

 

By Public Transport from Sydney

Public Transport options include flight, train and coach.

Direct flights from Sydney take a little more than 1 hour, depending on the timetable.

Travelling by train and/or coach takes a minimum of 6 hours, and frequently longer depending on the mix.

You will need to purchase an Opal card if you do not already have one, at the start of your journey or use your credit card at the gates to “tap on” and “tap off”.