Westall UFO Encounter Incident (1966)
The Westall UFO Encounter, which occurred on April 6, 1966, is one of Australia’s most compelling UFO sightings. More than 200 students, teachers, and local residents from Westall High School and a nearby primary school reported witnessing a disc-shaped object hovering over a grassy field. The object, described as gray and approximately 20-30 meters in diameter, remained stationary for several minutes before swiftly ascending and disappearing into the sky at high speed.
Westall High School, where the 1966 UFO incident took place, is located in Clayton South, a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This area is approximately 24 kilometers (about 15 miles) southeast of Melbourne’s city center. The school is now called Westall Secondary College, and the surrounding area has changed over the decades, with some parts like The Grange Reserve being turned into a memorial park commemorating the event.
Witnesses rushed to the field, later discovering a circular area of flattened grass, which many believed to be the landing site of the mysterious object. The incident took place in broad daylight, making it one of the largest and most well-documented UFO sightings in Australian history.
Almost immediately after the sighting, strange events unfolded. Witnesses recall that men in suits—believed to be government officials—arrived at the school, warning both students and staff not to discuss what they had seen. Andrew Greenwood, a science teacher, later reported being visited by two Air Force officers who threatened his job if he spoke about the encounter.
Despite the extensive witness accounts, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and other authorities never provided an official explanation. Speculation about a government cover-up has persisted for decades, particularly due to reports of a secret dossier allegedly prepared by the now-defunct Australian Department of Supply. This report, rumored to contain critical information about the encounter, has never surfaced. Shane Ryan, an investigator, uncovered testimony from a source who claimed that his father, a senior civil servant, wrote a classified report on the incident, which has since disappeared from public records.
The Australian Department of Supply was established in 1950 and played a critical role in managing the nation’s defense and industrial resources. Its primary functions included overseeing the production and procurement of war materials, managing workshops and factories, and controlling supplies related to atomic energy production. The department also handled the procurement of materials needed for Australian industry and defense, and it was integral to Australia’s broader war effort during its early years
The department was dissolved in 1974, and its responsibilities were largely transferred to the Department of Manufacturing Industry. Certain procurement policies were also taken over by the Department of the Special Minister of State, which dealt with government purchasing.
The Department of Supply was also linked to projects like the HIBAL program, which monitored radiation from nuclear tests, adding to speculation that it may have been involved in some secretive activities such as the Westall UFO investigation.
