The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has secured unanimous support from Shellharbour City Council for new long-term lease and license arrangements at Shellharbour Airport, providing greater certainty for the volunteer-run museum’s planned expansion. The agreement will accommodate an approved extension of approximately 1,823 square meters to the museum’s hangar, creating additional space for historic aircraft storage and maintenance. Because the development extends beyond the existing lease boundaries, additional airport land was required before the project could proceed. For HARS, the decision represents another step in a journey that began with a small group of aviation enthusiasts collecting WWII aircraft relics. Today, its collection includes aircraft ranging from wartime types to a Boeing 747, with John Travolta’s former Qantas Boeing 707 providing another significant addition.
HARS president Bob De La Hunty said the agreement would support the organization’s long-term sustainability as its 50th anniversary approaches in 2029. “We’re very mindful of the fact that our footprint at the airport has grown to the point where we needed to make sure that, for sustainability in the future, and to attract more people from the community point of view and also from tourism, that we work together to make the airport something really special,” he said. De La Hunty recalled that HARS began as a group of amateur historians determined to preserve remnants of Australia’s wartime aviation heritage. “In 2029, it’ll be 50 years since HARS started, and we started just as a bunch of amateur historians who collected pieces of aircraft relics from World War II that we thought should be saved for history,” he said. “Through a lot of passionate, enthusiastic people, we’ve been able to gather together an iconic collection which is pretty unique in the world.”
(Image credit: HARS)
Beyond preserving aircraft, HARS has developed an educational role through apprentice training connections with Qantas, TAFE, and Kinetic, alongside work-experience opportunities for young people. De La Hunty also highlighted the museum’s association with the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame and its support for 18 organizations. Councilor John Davey said the museum’s annual attendance of more than 50,000 visitors from Australia and overseas demonstrated its reputation and contribution to preserving Australian aviation history. He pointed to the arrival of Travolta’s Boeing 707 as further evidence of its international standing. According to Davey, the new arrangements consolidate existing leases while increasing HARS’ documented leased land area by 12 percent. After application of the recommended not-for-profit subsidy, the council’s net annual rental income would increase by 108 percent, representing an additional A$90,400. Davey also noted that Shellharbour’s Destination Management Plan identified culture and heritage—including aviation history at HARS—as one of the five strongest reasons first-time visitors chose the area. He described the agreement as a strategic investment.
(Image credit: HARS)
Councilor Kellie Marsh praised the museum’s work with local young people and the dedication of its volunteers and board. “I love the way that you have worked with local youth in our community to help develop them, to find their passion and their journey in aviation,” she said. “It’s not just about what has been with HARS or what is now. It’s about the long term.” Mayor Chris Homer likewise described HARS as one of Shellharbour’s most extraordinary attractions. With the lease and license arrangements unanimously approved, a firmer foundation has been established for the museum’s next phase of growth, supporting both the preservation of its aircraft collection and its continuing contribution to aviation education and regional tourism. For more information about the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), visit www.hars.org.au
(Image credit: HARS)
