RAAF Base Scherger is the newest of the Royal Australian Air Force's three 'bare bases', completing a chain of bases across Australia’s 'top end'. Located east of Weipa on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, it was constructed by troops drawn mainly from the 17th Construction Squadron, in what is believed to have been the biggest project undertaken by the Royal Australian Engineers at the time. It was opened on 5 August 1998 by the Prime Minister, John Howard.