Description

Until the opening of Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine, our International Airport was Essendon (now Essendon Fields).

In the early days of aviation, airline services operated from separate hangars, but as air traffic grew in the 1950s, Melbourne required a purpose-built international passenger terminal, and a new airport to accommodate larger jet airliners.

The Essendon Airport terminal opened in 1959, replacing temporary facilities in the former Aero Club building. It was the second dedicated international terminal in Australia and served as Melbourne’s gateway to the world until 1970.

Commissioned by the Commonwealth of Australia Department of Civil Aviation, it was an ‘emergency’ project until Tullamarine opened, with design and project management overseen by J Vaughan. Designed as a low-cost building with the flexibility to become a domestic terminal at a later date, the final scheme was estimated to cost £212k.

The terminal opened on Sunday 1 November, 1959, only 25 weeks after construction began. The first passenger to pass through was Ceylon’s Minister for Finance, who described the building as “magnificent” and “compared favourably with other major world air terminals”.

After international services moved to the “new” Melbourne Airport in 1970, and domestic services the year after, the terminal was largely unloved and underutilised, until Essendon Fields commenced a three-stage redevelopment in 2018, completed in 2024.

What's On

Join the Civil Aviation Historical Society for a talk in the lounge of the original Essendon Airport Terminal, which was refurbished in three stages over the last five years to update passenger facilities and create new commercial office space for the modern era. Following the presentation, pass through hallways also visited by international dignitaries and celebrities, and learn more about Essendon Fields Airport's 100+ year history. Walking maps will be available to take a self-guided tour of other original airport landmarks following the talks, and the nearby Airways Museum will also be open Saturday 26 July from 10am-3pm.