This was transcribed from a digital copy of a hand written report. The digital copy shows severe sharpening and jpeg artifacts which make it very difficult to ascertain certain words. I have requested that the National Archives re-scan this page at a higher resolution. My eyes hurt!

Original scanned page 


INSPECTION REPORT

DIRECTORATE OF WORKS AND BUILDINGS

Station or Unit    Aerodrome Sites Near Hume Highway between Somerton and Kalkallo

Inspected by       P/O Farran

Date               11/3/32[1]

An inspection was made adjacent to the Hume Highway northwards from Melbourne.

The Relief Landing Ground at Somerton was inspected with a view to extending it northwards. Owing to the presence of drainage depressions this was not proceeded with. A site was selected north of this site and has been reported on as the Craigieburn site.

Sites were inspected at Mickleham, east of the Old Sydney Road, near "Risborough Park." This site was covered with ?????? timber and would probably be used in ????? as it carries the drainage from the ridge to the west. It appears that area and also north of the Seventeen Mile Lane[2] would be suitable for dispersal(?) areas.

A small site is probably available East of the Hume Highway at its intersection with the Seventeen Mile Lane. This will only provide(?) an east west run of 1500 yards and the others 1700 yards. The site is obstructed on the west by a high hill, but the east west runway was sighted to the north of the hill with the diagonal runways(?) running from each end and the north south ?????? approximately through the centre. Owing to the the short east west run this site was not fully investigated.

A further site is probably available west of the Hume Highway and north of the Nineteen Mile Lane[3]. Owing to the erection of a flax mill on the site[4], which is now under construction, the site was not proceeded with.

Further north the country(?) becomes(?) ????? and the valleys ????? ?????? and so further investigation was not proceeded with.

D. C. Farran P/O

W.405/41.


Rowan's notes

[1] This is clearly dated March 1932 whilst the other pages appear to be from March 1942. Is this an error?

[2] Mt Ridley Road

[3] Donnybrook Road

[4] Does this still exist today?