Commissioned as HMAS Nirimba on 1 April 1953 as a joint RANARY and technical training establishment for RAN Fleet Air Arm.

[1] The aerodrome at Schofields had been operating as a civil field for many years until it too finally closed to flying in 1994.

In the late 1950s the aerodrome was used as a venue for motor racing by several Sydney car clubs, with the opening meeting taking place on 6 July 1958.

[3] The circuit used was approximately 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi) in length, and used one main runway and an access road in a roughly oval shape.

[4] While fast and open, the temporary nature of the track meant that volunteer officials had to set up and dismantle facilities such as grandstands, covered pits and timing towers all on the same day.