| RAAF Base Rathmines | |
|---|---|
.jpg) RAAF Rathmines showing the hangars on the shore and the Catalina aircraft moored in the lake, 1945 | |
| Location | Dorrington Road, Rathmines, City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°02′21″S 151°35′32″E / 33.0393°S 151.5921°E |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Built for | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Owner | Australian Christadelphian Bible School; Disability Life Enrichment; Don Geddes Nursing Home; Lake Macquarie City Council |
| Official name | Rathmines Park, former RAAF Seaplane Base; RAAF Base Rathmines; Seaplane Base; flying boat base; Rathmines Aerodrome; Catalina Base |
| Type | state heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 25 November 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1740 |
| Type | Defence Base Air Force (Flying boats) |
| Category | Defence |
  Location of RAAF Base Rathmines in New South Wales | |
RAAF Base Rathmines is a heritage-listed former RAAF Second World War seaplane base and now used as community venues, sports venues and a visitor attraction at Dorrington Road, Rathmines, City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. It was in use as an RAAF base from 1939 to 1961. It is also known as Rathmines Park, former RAAF Seaplane Base, Flying Boat Base, Rathmines Aerodrome and Catalina Base. The property is owned by Australian Christadelphian Bible School, Disability Life Enrichment, Don Geddes Nursing Home and Lake Macquarie City Council. The remains of the former air base was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 November 2005.[1]
RAAF Base Rathmines was established in 1939 and was the RAAF's main flying boat base during the Second World War and the early 1950s. During the war, aircraft based at Rathmines conducted anti-submarine patrols along the Australian east coast and the base was home to the RAAF's main seaplane training units. In addition, detachments from squadrons based at Rathmines flew numerous offensive mine laying missions into Japanese-held territory (due to Rathmines' distance from the front line, these aircraft staged through bases in Northern Australia when travelling to and from their targets). Rathmines was also the RAAF Maritime Section's main training base.
- ^ "Rathmines Park, former RAAF Seaplane Base". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01740. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
