HARS museum is preparing for an expansion. Photo: Supplied.
From a group of amateur historians collecting Second World War aircraft relics to a museum housing a Boeing 747, HARS has come a long way in almost 50 years.
But it’s not finished growing yet.
As one of Shellharbour’s biggest tourist attractions, the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has been cleared for its next phase of growth.
HARS has secured Shellharbour City Council’s unanimous backing for new long-term lease arrangements at Shellharbour Airport, giving it greater certainty to expand its footprint and invest in the museum’s future.
It already has development approval to extend its museum hangar by about 1823 square metres, providing additional space for historic aircraft storage and maintenance.
As the approval extends beyond the boundaries of the current leased area, HARS was required to lease the additional land to accommodate the development.
HARS president Bob De La Hunty said the agreement would help the volunteer-run organisation work towards becoming “one of the best international aviation museums in the world” as it approached its 50th anniversary 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.
“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.
“From that early beginnings, we used to meet and talk about what could have been, because Australia had the fifth largest air force in the world and a huge manufacturing capability, and it all faded into the past.
“So, through a lot of passionate, enthusiastic people, we’ve been able to gather together an iconic collection which is pretty unique in the world.”
He said it had attracted the Aviation Hall of Fame, apprentice training facilities with Qantas, TAFE and Kinetic, 150 young people attending work experience and 18 organisations it supports.
Councillor John Davey said the fact the completely volunteer-run museum attracted more than 50,000 visitors a year from all over Australia and the world was testament to HARS’ reputation and mission to preserve Australian aviation history.
An image of the expansion which is anticipated to assist in accommodating additional historic aircraft storage and maintenance. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
“And its reputation truly is international, as evidenced most recently by the arrival of John Travolta’s original Qantas 707,” he said.
“The American crews and their families will be arriving in October to reassemble the wings and enjoy Australian hospitality because of reputation.”
He said this new lease was a consolidation of existing leases.
“The consolidation, after applying the recommended subsidy for a not-for-profit, results in a significant benefit to both council and HARS,” he said.
“Namely, HARS acquiring a 12 per cent documented increase of leased land area, council receiving a 108 per cent increase in the net annual rent, equating to after subsidy, an increase of $90,400.”
Cr Davey said in the new Shellharbour Destination Management Plan one of the five strongest reasons first-time visitors chose to visit Shellharbour was “culture and heritage, including aviation history at HARS”.
He said given that, he thought it was “a strategic investment”.
Cr Kellie Marsh said the city was blessed to have HARS want to call Shellharbour home.
“I love the way that you [HARS] have worked with local youth in our community to help develop them, to find their passion and their journey in aviation, which is a wonderful thing,” she said.
“HARS isn’t just well known in Shellharbour, but right across the world.
“The amount of people that we have come from across the globe and across Australia to visit our city because of HARS is just a testament to the wonderful volunteers and board that we have.
“It’s not just about what has been with HARS or what is now. It’s about the long term.”
Mayor Chris Homer agreed.
“Apart from our stunning environmental attractions that the city has to offer on this stunning coast, most certainly HARS is one of the most extraordinary attractions that Shellharbour City has to offer,” he said.
It was unanimously adopted to approve the proposed lease and licence arrangements with HARS at Shellharbour Airport.
