Goonoo Goonoo Weekend

Goonoo Goonoo Station – June 15 and 16, 2019

AOPA Australia members, family and friends are invited to the June AOPA Australia Flying Event for 2019 – a weekend at the historic Goonoo Goonoo Station, 17 nautical miles south east of Tamworth to be held on the weekend of June 15 and 16, 2019.   For those that cannot make the weekend, an option could be to fly up on the Sunday for lunch.

Goonoo Goonoo Station can trace its origins back to 1841, when the head station of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) was relocated there from Calala.   Production peaked in 1899 when the property held over 212,000 sheep.  The shearing shed was built to accommodate 47 shearers, and when the full compliment was at work, as many as 3,000 sheep can be put through in a day, though 2,500 was considered a fair average.  During 1933 Goonoo Goonoo came to national attention, with the release of the Ken Hall movie The Squatter’s Daughter, parts of which were filmed by cinematographer Frank Hurley at the station.

Goonoo Goonoo Station was subsequently acquired by its present owners, the Haggarty family, towards the end of 2011.  Restoration began almost immediately, which was completed during 2017.  The Glasshouse Restaurant on the station provides excellent meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There is also a variety of accommodation options available, ranging from deluxe rooms with en-suites in the Shearers Quarters, a granny flat, several cottages and the luxurious homestead which can take up 10 guests.

More information on Goonoo Goonoo Station can be found at

https://www.goonoogoonoostation.com

Pilot and passengers will enjoy the flight to Goonoo Goonoo, which can track up the Hunter Valley crossing the Liverpool Ranges.  A return flight can comfortably be done in a day in Piper Warrior or Cessna 172 type aircraft from Sydney as Bankstown to Goonoo Goonoo is 157 nautical miles direct.  The station comes with its own grass airstrip which has a length of 1,000 meters.

In the event that weather may prevent operations into the station airstrip, the AOPA Australia bus will be available to transport participants from Sydney or to provide transfers from Tamworth Airport.

Details on accommodation and meal options and airport transfers will be provided during May to interested participants – but budget around $400 per person for accommodation and 3 meals, excluding drinks to cover these costs.  Sunday lunch only, excluding drinks will be about $80 per person.

The aim of AOPA Australia Flying Events is to provide members enjoyable GA experiences at wonderful Australian destinations.  The flying events calendar can be found at

https://aopa.com.au/events/member-fly-aways

Would you or your local Aero Club or Flying Group like to participate in our annual calendar of Fly-Aways and Air-Safaris?

Each year the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia organizes an exciting calendar of member fly-aways and air-safari’s to some of Australia most iconic and spectacular locations.  Aero Clubs and Flying Groups are all welcome to take part!  To join your club or group, please contact:

Mr Chris Muller
Flying Events Coordinator – AOPA Australia
Mobile:  0412 129 162
Email: chris.muller@aopa.com.au

Mr George Higgins
Flying Events Coordinator – AOPA Australia
Mobile:  0422 157 991
Email: george.higgins@aopa.com.au