13 – Halifax Park

Halifax Park was opened in 1946 by Geoff Wikner using funds from the sale of a Halifax bomber.

Geoff was an Australian self-taught aeronautical engineer who flew in the Air Transport Auxiliary during World War 11.

Following the end of the war, Geoff purchased a Handley Page Halifax bomber which he called ‘’Waltzing Matilda’’. It had flown 51 missions over Germany with the RAAF. He flew it to Australia with his English wife Trudy their three children and 20 paying passengers with 21 stops over three weeks.

On leased Crown land and with the funds from the sale of the aircraft, he opened Halifax caravan and camping park. It was the first caravan park in Australia, and he ran it for the next 20 years.