4Repair and Service Unit came from Melbourne in November of 1942 to set up their work and living areas in the humid build-up period preceding the Wet.

They were the southern-most unit of a number camped around Pell Airstrip. That first year they spent digging drains around tents and roads, and digging vehicles out of bogs. Eventually there were 26 miles of drains around Pell Airstrip, and 25 tons of gravel from Coomalie on 4RSU camp alone.

The development of both the workshop and revetment areas - for camouflaged aeroplane storage during repairs-plus the living area is easily interpreted at Pell Mell property, 100 km south of Darwin and 10km north of Adelaide River township along the Stuart Highway.

Pell Mell farmstay offers high standard accommodation for a small number of people, plus some campsites.

A guided tour starts from the airstrip and then amongst the various areas where instruments and motor parts were often manufactured from basics, propellers mounted and serviced , batteries recharged parts polished and painted. Some men went to bring back damaged aircraft from far flung areas of the Top end, often entailing them living hard and being away for months.

The wartime maps enable us to follow around the many foundation of buildings, and visualise the ingenuity and make-do attitudes needed to deliver aircraft back to service asap.

A well made road leads to the camp, which had a parade ground, and separate messes for the officers (with attached kitchen), the seargents, and the airmen. These are all distinctive and were built with care. In each case gardens were set around the entrance.

An outside recreation area with roasting oven and more gardens is also apparent. The large kitchens, srorage, and latrines are central to all.

Tent sites are many and often embellished, officers on the hillside, men on the flat.

Two bores, tank sites- the story is all there to be interpreted.

As well there is a wide range of artifacts and bottles, which have been picked up over the area and are on display. You can study these whilst enjoying a mug of tea or coffee, and a homemade anzac biscuit alongside the camp kitchen area.

There is a host of stories about the camp, and the variety of birds around, plus a range of native trees and shrubs all makes for an informative and enjoyable few hours.