The Westall UFO Encounter

On April 6, 1966, over 200 students and staff at Westall High School in Melbourne, Australia, witnessed a UFO descend into a nearby paddock, land briefly, and then depart at tremendous speed. The event was followed by official suppression and threats that kept witnesses silent for decades.

The Event

At approximately 11:00 AM during morning recess:

• Students noticed a grey, disc-shaped object descending toward The Grange, a paddock near the school
• The object appeared to land in the grass
• It was pursued or accompanied by small aircraft (possibly military)
• After several minutes, the object ascended at incredible speed and departed

Witnesses

The sighting was observed by:

• Students from Westall High School
• Teachers who rushed outside
• Students from nearby Westall State School
• Local residents

Conservative estimates place the number of witnesses at over 200.

The Object

Witnesses described:

• A grey, silvery disc
• Approximately 20 feet in diameter
• Smooth, without visible windows or markings
• Silent or making a low humming sound
• Capable of hovering and sudden acceleration

The Landing Site

Some students ran to the paddock:

• Found a circular area of flattened grass
• The vegetation appeared swirled or depressed
• The site was quickly cordoned off
• Officials arrived and secured the area

The Cover-Up

The aftermath was marked by suppression:

• Military or government personnel arrived at the school
• Students were assembled and told not to discuss the event
• Teachers were instructed to deny the sighting
• The headmaster threatened students with expulsion if they spoke to media
• Officials collected photographs and film from witnesses

Long-Term Silence

For decades, witnesses remained largely silent:

• Fear of ridicule
• Threats from authorities
• Professional concerns
• Lack of supporting evidence

Modern Investigations

Beginning in the 2000s, researcher Shane Ryan began documenting the case:

• Tracked down hundreds of witnesses
• Collected consistent testimonies
• Produced a documentary (“Westall ‘66: A Suburban UFO Mystery”)
• Discovered ongoing trauma in some witnesses

Witness Testimonies

Decades later, witnesses have spoken out:

• Descriptions remain consistent across independent witnesses
• Many express frustration at official denials
• Some report lasting psychological effects
• The suppression itself became part of the story

Official Position

Australian authorities have never acknowledged the incident:

• No official investigation records have surfaced
• Military involvement has been denied
• Government files remain classified or missing

Physical Evidence

The landing site showed physical traces:

• Circular impression in grass
• Witnesses who entered reported feeling strange
• The site was later developed, preventing further study

Reunion Events

Witnesses have held reunion events:

• Comparing memories and experiences
• Providing support for those still affected
• Pushing for official acknowledgment
• Keeping the incident in public awareness

Significance

The Westall incident is significant for:

• Mass witnesses (200+)
• Daylight, close-range observation
• Physical landing trace
• Documented official suppression
• Consistent testimony over decades
• Ongoing witness activism

Legacy

Westall stands as one of Australia’s most significant UFO events. The combination of mass witnesses, apparent landing, and documented cover-up has kept the case alive across generations. The witnesses’ courage in eventually speaking out has provided one of the best-documented mass sightings in UFO history.