Essendon Airport was established in the 1920s and since that time has played a significant role in Australia’s aviation history.
Many of Australia’s early aviators, including Charles Kingsford-Smith used Essendon Airport, whilst international aviation celebrities such as Amelia Earhart also visited Essendon in the 1930s.
Essendon was used as a defence aviation facility during the second world war but by the 1950s was primarily used for civil aviation activities. In particular, Reg Ansett, the founder of Ansett Airlines, commenced flight operations from the airport which later experienced millions of domestic and international passengers movements up until 1971.
The heyday of Essendon Airport was during the 1950s and 60s. Throughout these twenty years, Essendon Airport was the domestic and international gateway for Melbourne.
For many thousands of new post-war immigrants, Essendon Airport was their first experience of Melbourne. In addition, throughout these years, Essendon played host to the Queen, President Lyndon Johnson, The Beatles and Roy Orbison, to name a few.
In 1971 Essendon Airport’s passenger flight services were transferred to the new Tullamarine Airport. Since that time, Essendon has continued as a general and executive jet airport and is expanding its activities to comprise offices, commercial facilities and industrial uses.
Essendon Airport played a major role in the Black Saturday Bushfires in February 2009, which saw the airport become the hub for the transport of fire fighters. A total of 6,500 fire fighters were flown into Essendon Airport by charter operators from across Australian and New Zealand, to assist with the fire suppression activities.