Australia’s first Royal Australian Naval Air Station was commissioned on August 31, 1948.

Under the command of Commander HJF Lane OBE, RN, Albatross was commissioned, as the White Ensign flew proudly from the control tower of the Nowra Aerodrome.

In April 1948, the name of the new station was approved by King George VI.

The following month on May 8, 1948 a party of cars and trucks departed HMAS Penguin heading south to the deserted airfield. 

The enormity of their task soon became apparent.

The airfield had been vacant for the past two years and had been subjected to widespread vandalism. The advance party arrived to find doors torn off hinges, broken windows, fittings stripped and wash basins and toilet bowls broken.

One of the five hangars, when it was first opened, was found to have a large black snake guarding it. Upset at being disturbed, it reared up to strike the unsuspecting officers.

Extensive refurbishment was required to make the station habitable and ready for the first aircraft to arrive the following year.

The appropriate support facilities also had to be established such as classrooms, accommodation, galleys, stores and provisions for married personnel. However, it wasn’t until October 1949 that the ‘patch’ was established.

The runways also needed much work. Although described as having a 'tarmac' surface, they were little more than compacted gravel and had a habit of breaking up, which had caused much consternation during WWII.

One of the major issues was a lack of electricity. Additionally, communication with the outside world was difficult, with only a single phone shared by all the staff.

Albatross became the Fleet Air Arm's main training establishment, thus a number of schools were set up. One of those was the Aircraft Handling School. 

As part of the school, a dummy deck was painted on concrete to replicate a flight deck.

All this and only seven months to prepare for the arrival of the 20th Carrier Air Group (CAG) in May 1949, which brought an extra 1000 people to the area, an increase in the local population of more than 10 per cent.

The provision of married quarters and accommodation generally posed a problem. Personnel found accommodation where they could at Huskisson, Shoalhaven Heads, Nowra and beyond.

As late as 1951, officers and sailors were still living in tents and caravans at the back of the Nowra Showground.