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Sydney Airport cuts the ribbon on Shep’s Mound

written by australianaviation.com.au | August 31, 2017

The new Shep's Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)
The new Shep’s Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)

Photographers looking to capture the perfect shot at Sydney Airport can now enjoy a new facility overlooking the airfield with the official opening of Shep’s Mound.

Situated near the air traffic control tower at the south-eastern end of the airfield, ‘the mound’ has been a popular location for aviation photographers for many years.

In recognition of this, Sydney Airport has built two raised platforms there overlooking the airfield, as well as adding undercover shelter and car parking areas.

The undercover shelter Shep's Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)
The undercover shelter Shep’s Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)
There are two raised platforms at Shep's Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)
There are two raised platforms at Shep’s Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)

It also recognises aviation enthusiast Bruce Shepherd, who founded the YSSY online message board, by officially naming the upgraded site Shep’s Mound.

Shepherd, who died in 2005, was a regular presence at the site that now bears his name.

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His brother Geoff Shepherd, who was at the official opening on Thursday, was thrilled to have Bruce recognised in this way.

“We hope that dedicating the tower mound in memory of Bruce will allow his work in bringing aviation spotters together to live on for a very long time to come,” Geoff Shepherd said in a statement.

“Through his dedicated work and sense of community, the family are honoured to see our name associated with Sydney Airport and the aviation community.”

Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said Shep’s Mound was part of fostering a strong and enduring relationship with the local community.

“We’re delighted to provide an improved space for our plane spotting community and honoured to recognise Shep’s legacy,” Mather said.

The new Shep's Mound at Sydney Airport. (Bernie Proctor)
A scene from Shep’s Mound. (Bernie Proctor)

 

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Comments (19)

  • Nick

    says:

    Great idea! Can’t wait till they put some of these in the terminals around the world. Particularly in international transfer lounges/areas where passengers have longer waiting times. Would also be a good source of revenue for airports as they could charge a premium for retailers based up there??

  • Stuart

    says:

    Fantastic!!

    Shepp would be very Proud of this mound, named in his Honour!!

    Now if only we can get the Melbourne Airport and is owners – Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne), to do something like this, as we have been asking now for over 10 years, that would be great, to honour Dave Carey and his work with the Jet spotters Group and the Melbourne Aviation Group, which he started.

    Unfortunately, since the death of Dave Carey (one of the founders of the Jetspotters Group) some 15 years ago, (who like Bruce Shepperd in Sydney), was always at Operations Rd, with camera in hand, we Melbourne spotters have lost our relationship with the Melbourne Airport Authority, which he had developed.

    There is no reason why Melbourne Airport Authority couldn’t do something similar, as Perth Airport has an area for spotters / community use, and now Sydney.

  • Dave

    says:

    Looks great. Hopefully we’ll see more of these around the traps

  • Lechuga

    says:

    Would love a bit of a raised point at Melbourne, it has the car park, but thebfence gets in the way a bit. Would be nice to have a little boost.

  • Brian

    says:

    These are great. Was over in Perth earlier this year for work and found our new salesman had a PPL to – time to kill waiting for our flight so visited the spotters location at Perth airport

  • Greg

    says:

    Can we have specific directions on how to get to this location.

  • Roger

    says:

    Typo: “It has also recognises aviation enthusiast …was

    • australianaviation.com.au

      says:

      Thanks @Roger, that has now been corrected

  • I was in Sydney yesterday and before flying home I had to call in for a look, albeit for only 15 minutes. Congratulations goes to Sydney Airport and everyone else involved. I absolutely loved it, it is high enough to look over the fence without a ladder. The area is wide and open and the wind break / shelter wall with the history is a great feature .

  • Ben

    says:

    I was very privileged to have met Shep – Albeit briefly, for a few days. I travelled down to Sydney for the inaugural YSSY message board spotting weekend back in January 2002. It was a memorable few days (apart from the sunburn). Shep was a perfect gentleman and so obliging. Even though he was already ill then, he still had such a positive outlook on everything. This mound is a fitting tribute to him. Well done Sydney Airport.

  • David Fix

    says:

    I used to go plane spotting at this spot A good spot at a great Airport

  • Head for Carbridge at 50 Ross Smith Avenue. The main car park and entrance to Shep’s Mound is 50 metres south west of there. There are also four extra car spaces in the top carpark 20 metres north west of the control tower.

  • Bill

    says:

    It was great to see it busy with spotters young and old this morning

  • Paul Case

    says:

    Is ASIC required to access this site? Is it airside, or public access?

  • Derrick

    says:

    Hopefully I’ll be taking my son this weekend to the Shep’s mound for a bit of plane spotting

  • Brian

    says:

    If only Melbourne Airport had the same positive attitude to aircraft spotters, or even the general public when it came to appreciating aircraft. Unlike their primary rival (SYD), MEL is devoid of a dedicated open air viewing platform at any of it’s terminals, and only has a rudimentary car parking area with limited view on the far side of the airport. C’mon MEL, get with it!.

  • Gareth Shepherd

    says:

    My Surname is Shepherd, so there will be another Shepherd on Sheps Mound This November, Visiting from England, Looks A Great Spot 🙂

  • Bill Mcnamara

    says:

    we took our 2 year old grand-daughter on Tuesday 11th June 2019. we were all amazed. the little one absolutely loved it she ooodd and aaahhed the whole time we were there. next time we will take our mini step ladder for her to sit on looking over the fence. she got a bit heavy carrying her the whole time.
    excellent rated five star for sure

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