A public appeal was launched in 1982 to raise funds for the airstrip to be built on land at the Cobden Racecourse. The Heytesbury Shire, which fully supported the project, had purchased the land from the Cobden Turf Club for $10,000.

The task of establishing the airstrip was halted for some time in 1983 when the Ash Wednesday fires brought devastation to the area.  The aftermath of the fires absorbed all voluntary and Heytesbury Shire labour and plant. However, the project was still completed by February, 1984, thanks to the cooperation of the shire, local contractors, service clubs and many volunteer helpers.

The shire council appointed a member of its engineering staff and pilot, Garth McLennan, as secretary of the management committee and he duly called a meeting at Cr John Blake’s home; Other members of the committee were shire representatives Cr Blake and Cr Frank Howard, Chamber of Commerce representatives Jim Walsh and Graham Parlour, Cobden Rotary’s Stan Coad, Cobden Apex Club’s Des Pekin, Cr Arthur Matheson (Cobden Bush Nursing Hospital), Lyal Couch (Timboon Lions), Gary Hibberd (Timboon Apex) and Garth McLennan (shire staff and involved user) as secretary.

At the meeting, Jim Walsh was naturally appointed president as he had been the main mover and shaker behind the project. On investigation by the secretary, it was found that the airstrip had been put down in good faith but was not wide enough to meet Department of Aviation standards so, once again, the public came good with further donations to complete the job.

Luckily, the shire had its own soils laboratory and a suitable amount of red gravel and scoria was supplied. At the September, 1985, committee meeting, it was reported the air ambulance had made 53 visits in the previous twelve months.

On March 14th, 1988, the Cobden airstrip was officially opened by Air Commodore R R Tayles AFC who dedicated the project to Mr J L (Jim) Walsh for his services to the community. Over the ensuing years, maintenance has been carried out by the committee and volunteers. Flying schools, Staywood Air and Rudi’s Aviation operated from the strip, and many pilots from all over the district have qualified in both general  and recreational aviation.

Many corporate, tourist and crop-dusting planes have utilised the airstrip to benefit the area. The Cobden Aero Club has made very good use of the strip and conducted fly-ins with all shire accommodation being booked out.

A local sub-committee under the coordination of Pip Robertson has raised thousands of dollars for improvements to the strip. After Jim Walsh retired, the management committee was headed by Kevin Norris who later handed the reins over to Kevin Oborne before Des Pekin assumed control. Our airstrip has certainly been a wonderful asset to Cobden and district, and its full potential remains unlimited.