ESSENDON AIRPORT index
The Essendon airport is situated on an area originally known as St. Johns, named after an early landowner. Although the airport was never wholly located within Essendon municipality until August 1979, the title was officially noted on 7 August 1923. Until 1943, the airport was wholly located within the Broadmeadows Shire.
Helicopter Landing at Essendon Airport (24/2/2002)
1839 - The area was used for grazing purposes, in the 1840-1850's the land was subdivided into smaller blocks.
1919 - The Aero Club was founded, which operated out St. Johns site.
1921 - 19/3/21 - The Controller of Civil Aviation recommended the purchase of or lease of 38 hectares at Fisherman's Bend for the location of the airport.
31/3/21 - A report was conducted on all suitable airport sites within 16kms of Melbourne. A shot list of four sites was submitted: St.Johns, Glenroy, opposite Broadmeadows Army Camp, and Albion was submitted, with the St.Johns site being preferred.
3/8/21 - A total of 37 hectares was to be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1906, for "Defense Purposes". The maximum runway available is 640m.
1922 - Airport officially opens.
1923 - 7/8/1923 - St.Johns Field was officially given the title Essendon Aerodrome.
1925 - 3 hangers had been erected by the Commonwealth, Larkin Aircraft Co., Aero Engineering and Construction Co. The field was also leveled and a wind indicator was installed.
1926 - Aero club started active flying/training. Using loaned 'Moth' aircraft.
1927 - First accident occurred when an Aero Club Moth collided with a piece of Larkin Aircraft Co.'s Machinery.
1930 - Total of 4 Hangars and support residences had been erected.
Essendon Airport (1930)
1935 - 5 hangars, formed apron area and support facilities had been built. With a purchase of an additional 36.5 hectares, and extension to the South increased the max run available to 1144m.
1937 - First tower constructed - small glass box built on Aero Club building. Visual directions and control were used: Aldis signaling lamp and Verey signaling pistol.
1938 - Australian National Airways based their operations at the airport with regular flights to Adelaide, Broken Hill, Tasmania and Sydney. Ansett Airways had also established a presence. 8 hangars had been constructed and plans were formed for major developments.
26/2/1938 - ANA announced that 20,000 pounds would be spent on its building improvements.
4/8/1938 - The Major announced that 200,000 pounds was to be spent on the aerodrome, with a connection of Treadwell and Bulla Roads.
1943 - Local display of a Lancaster Bomber took place.
1946 - Second tower constructed with H.F communications and modest control console and a 'daylight plotter' - an elementary form of radar.
1949 - Training and flying by the Aero Club was transferred to the new airport at Moorabbin.
1950 - 20 December, First international passenger flight arrived from NZ. The old Aero Club building was converted an International Terminal: a Customs area and passenger waiting room.
1956 - September - Present tower commissioned: New generation of tower, sloping windows to avoid glare, state of the art console. Completed just in time for Olympic games.
Aero Club building and Control Towers (Late 1950's)
1959 - Cossor Radar with range of 40miles was installed in tower. - November - Current International Terminal building was opened
1960 - 2nd tower and Aero Club (old international terminal) buildings demolished and become the paved apron area.
1970 - Airport now resides on 305 hectares of land.
1/7/1970 - International flights were transferred to the freshly built Tullamarine Airport.
1971 - 21/6/1971 - Commercial domestic flights moved to Tullamarine Airport.
1978 - 10/7/1978 - Partenavia P68B aircraft with a crew of two and one passenger crashed into houses shortly after take off, 286 metres from the end of the runway. 6 members of an airport west family were killed, and one received minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed and the three occupants were seriously injured.
1986 - 6 people were killed when an Air-ambulance crashed in an empty paddock after take-off.
1988 - January: Essendon Airport comes under the control of the Federal Airports Corporation (F.A.C.) and has recorded a financial loss every year since.
1990 - Curfew conditions on operations between 11pm and 6am are introduced.
1993 - A light plane carrying 10 people on board smashed through the rooftops of five Essendon houses. No one was killed.
Essendon Airport Control Tower (24/2/2002)