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Site Details
   
WWII Pell Airfield 4RSU RAAF Engineering Workshop and Main Camp
Permanent Declaration
Place
Place consists of remnants of the WWII engineering workshops, gun emplacements, squadron camp, roads, parade ground and water bores.
Pell Airfield was developed as part of the Aerodrome Development Program in early 1942. Pell was established as an aircraft salvage, repair and servicing facility, in contrast to those airfields further north at Sattler, Strauss and Livingstone, which served as fighter strips.
The airstrip was named in honour of Major Floyd J Pell, who was killed during the first Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February 1942.
No. 4 RSU (Repairs and Salvage Unit) arrived at Pell in late 1942 and was one of a number of Repair and Salvage units to occupy the site. It established its camp and workshops areas at the southern end of the airfield.
The unit remained at Pell from November 1942 to May 1945 and during that time undertook a number of salvage missions in remote and dangerous areas of the Top End of the Territory, and carried out servicing to a range of operational aircraft types. No. 4 RSU relocated to Winnellie in mid-1945 and Pell was abandoned shortly after.
The remaining camp, workshops areas and taxiways occupied by No. 4 RSU during its service there are relatively intact and combine to present a significant precinct representing the activities of a unit that saw none of the glamour of the operational flying units but was instrumental in the salvage, repair and return to operational service of a range of aircraft types.
12/10/2004
10/12/2004
09/03/2007
Comment sought
Council agreed:

(a) that the precinct comprising the No. 4 RSU camp, workshops areas and taxiway met assessment criteria (h) and (k);
(b) to accept the draft statement of heritage value;
(c) to approve the draft conservation policy as the basis of future management of the place; and
(d) to proceed with the implementation of the section 24 process.

Moved Mr A Allan Seconded Mr G Addicott Carried
13/06/2007
13/09/2007
26/09/2007
HAC2004/0017
Historic
Pell Airfield Engineering Workshop - Section 236(A) Hundred of Playford.
Main Camp - Section 237(A) Hundred of Playford.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewPellAirfield 140116_LR1.JPGConcrete floor slab within the camp area with stone garden edge and evidence of a small garden29/JUL/21
ViewPellAirfield 140116_LR2.JPGDefensive post looking over the workshop area29/JUL/21
ViewPellAirfield 140116_LR3.JPGConcrete floor slabs within the camp area29/JUL/21
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Scan
   
no data found
Further Information
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument and Gazettal.pdfInstrument and Gazettal04/FEB/09
ViewWWII Pell airfield.pdfBackground Historical Information21/MAR/11
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Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
625 00188 7847STUARTADELAIDE RIVER625188 - - Freehold
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Status Explanations
   

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object