[2] Richmond Valley Council with the assistance of the recently formed Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Association (EHMAHAA) and Evans Head Air Park, has been actively supporting the restoration of a number of heritage items located on the aerodrome including the restoration of the last remaining Bellman hangar and the refurbishment and relocation of the original base canteen.

In addition to bombing and gunnery practice, the school also trained personnel for roles including Air Observers/Bomb Aimers, Wireless Operators/Air Gunners and Navigators.

[4] In late 1941 with Japan entering the war, the proximity of RAAF Evans Head to Brisbane made the base an important defensive asset in the event of an attack.

As many as 17 transportable Bellman hangars were erected on the base, and a substantial marine search and rescue unit operated from their own wharves in the nearby township.

[4] In 1943, 1BAGS was disbanded and No 1 Air Observers School relocated from RAAF Station Cootamundra to Evans Head, flying mainly Avro Anson and CAC Wackett aircraft.

[4] During upgrades at Casino Airport to allow the operation of Fokker F28 jets, Evans Head was reopened to commercial traffic for a short period in 1985.

In the late 1990s, Richmond River Shire Council sought approval from the Department of Transport to subdivide land for residential development at the southern end of runway 14/32.

[7] Whilst this was approved by the department, there is substantial evidence and opinion that it was not in accordance with the original intention of the Airport Local Ownership Agreement.

The residential estates encroached upon existing noise contours and led to council shortening the available distance of the runway and restricting the size and type of aircraft operations.

[10] In 2005, a management plan for the aerodrome was submitted by the Richmond Valley Council to the Heritage Office to allow the rezoning of airport land for the construction of a retirement village.

[16] The dominant "landmark" feature of the aerodrome is its runways surrounded by mown grass verges and low level heath scrub with views to the Great Dividing Range, Broadwater Sugar Mill and Evans Head Headlands.

None of the original buildings and related facilities from WWII, such as water tanks and control tower, remain except for one (modified) Bellman Hangar.

A second Bellman hangar is on an isolated area of the former tarmac, now part of the surrounding industrial estate functions as a works depot for the Richmond Valley Council, although this has been substantially modified and was moved to the site from its original location at Coffs Harbour.

This event attracts aviators from all over Australia and is often visited by vintage aircraft and warbirds, many providing joy flights and aerial demonstrations.

[17][18] A consortium, Evans Head Airpark Pty Ltd., submitted a proposal in 2009 to the Richmond Valley Council's advertisements for expressions of interest to purchase and redevelop the airfield, incorporating a residential airpark comprising some 60 housing lots, aviation related industries and supporting businesses, passenger services, a museum, a boutique hotel and convention centre.

The consortium was headed by Waratah Coal CEO Peter Lynch and also includes Red Bull Air Race competitor Matt Hall and former Ironman and owner of Australia's largest private aviation fleet Grant Kenny, among other high-profile figures.

[19] In 2011, the consortium announced they were involved in tendering processes with the Department of Defence to receive decommissioned Royal Australian Air Force DHC-4 Caribou and F-111 aircraft for display in the museum to be centred on the surviving WWII Bellman hangar.

The hangars were designed and built for Australian conditions by Sir Valston Hancock, Director of Works, who later became the first commanding officer for the base.

It is a cultural site and continues to have an effect on the civilian, ex service, and defence population of the North Coast area of NSW and all visitors to the region.

[2] Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 November 2002 having satisfied the following criteria.

The item is historically significant because of its association with Sir Valston Hancock and was the site of 17 Bellman Hangars (only one remains in its original location).

Its sheer size gives it a powerful sense of place and its proximity to the Evans Head village and the coastline emphasise its strategic location and the scope of the RAAF Base during the war.

A design using three runways or more has only been applied to the larger aerodromes such as those based in Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Moruya, Nabiac, Temora and Tocumwal.

[26][2] Its future protection and management is essential in terms of it being one of the largest WWII aerodrome sites in the State and its significance in the history of defence in Australia.

The item represents an important class of WWII aerodromes in NSW because of its size, strategic location and its pivotal role in the training of RAAF personnel for the war effort.