In May 1929 a landing ground was established on the Ballarat Common in Wendouree, north of the railway line adjacent to the "Flax Mill Swamp".

The then-Shire of Ballarat negotiated with the Department of Interior to become the civil operator of the airfield and sought the maintenance on site of the hangars and other structures, but a majority of the P Huts were sold by the Commonwealth.

[2] In 2006, the aerodrome was recommended for listing on the Victorian Heritage Register due to its ability to illustrate the Empire Air Training Scheme in Victoria.

BRM factory drivers Dan Gurney and Graham Hill finished first and second in the major race, the Victoria Trophy, with Ron Flockhart third in a Cooper.

Famously on the night before the race Gurney's car was stolen from its hangar and driven into or hidden with, hay bales out on the track with minimal damage.