The presence at Edinburgh dates back to World War II when the largest munitions plant in the Southern Hemisphere was established at Penfield, a small village to the south of the current base. From 1946 to the mid1960s, several thousand Australians and British nationals were based at Penfield, Woomera and Mallala supporting weapons research and testing. In the early 1950s it was recognised that a more capable air base was required to support these activities and on 22 March 1954, RAAF Base Edinburgh was formally opened by His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Today, RAAF Base Edinburgh, along with Defence Science Technology Group, Edinburgh Parks and the Woomera Range Complex, is part of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Over 6,500 RAAF and Army personnel from 1Bde, Defence civilians and contractors work across the operationally focused joint Defence establishment, which has also become the Australian Defence Force’s major intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, and electronic warfare hub.

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