Old Racecourse Becomes Large Airport

IN its ambitious plans for public works throughout the Colony, the New Caledonian General Council includes provision for the spending of ten million francs on enlarging and improving Magenta airport, which lies right on the sea within a mile or two of the centre of Noumea.

The airport was constructed in a hurry

towards the end of 1942 by US Seabees and Marines, and was steadily improved and considerably used during the Ameri can offensive in the Solomons. It was the recognised departure and landing ground for Noumea-based admirals and generals making tours of inspection, though overseas leaders and the big transport planes which brought them

used the bigger Tontouta drome, 53 kilo meters from town.

The Magenta area has throughout

The last race meeting held at Magenta Racecourse, Noumea, in November, 1939. In 1942, the US Marines and Seabees turned the course into an airfield, used considerably during the Solomons campaign. The New Caledonian General Council proposes spending ten million francs on its upkeep, while the US House of Representatives Naval Sub-Committee includes it in the list of land and sea plane bases which America should for strategic reasons retain.

Photo: Medard, Noumea.

been a huge American camping ground, and Americans spent a considerable amount of money there on installations.

The airstrip is approached over a swamp, and the take-off is straight out to sea in the direction of the Isle of Pines, the last portion of the strip being a now raised part of the beach that the tide used to invade.

Magenta is Noumea’s old racecourse, and the old grandstand has been left standing, and has been used by the Americans for accommodation and offices.

The last race meeting was held there late in 1939, the “race of the day” being won with ease by a Caledonian-bred horse, ridden by a Japanese jockey (who waved to the crowd as he passed the winning-post) and owned by a Japanese business man who gave the prize money to a French war charity. Also in the race were horses imported from Aus tralia, ridden by Australian jockeys.

Caledonians are keen racegoers, and town and country meetings are as eagerly looked forward to as in the non-city areas of the Commonwealth. In the course of time, no doubt, Noumea will find the money to establish a new racecourse.