1920 - 1930
March 1921
The Minister for Defence approves the establishment of a civil aerodrome for Melbourne.
May 1921
The Minister for Defence approves the development of a site known as "St Johns" on Bulla Road, about two miles from Essendon Station.
August 1923
The aerodrome is officially known as Essendon Aerodrome.
1933
One of the largest crowds ever seen in Melbourne assembles at Essendon Airport to welcome aviation pioneer Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith (15th October, 1933).
1936
Ansett (which became a major domestic airline) commenced operations at Essendon Aerodrome.
The first control tower was built on top of the Aero Club building.
1936
Hangar 4 constructed and opened by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. Designed by architect Howard Garnet Alsop it was Australia’s largest hangar at the time. The building was the primary ANA (Australian National Airways Ltd) hangar and terminal in Australia.
April 1936
Holyman’s Airways (later Australian National Airways) first Douglas DC-2, named Bungana (Registration VH-USY) arrives at Essendon Airport.
1937
Hangar 3 constructed. This hangar was Ansett Airways Limited first hangar at Essendon Airport and the first building constructed by Ansett.
December 1939
The Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) instructs that a site at Tullamarine be examined for possible development as a second aerodrome for Melbourne.
1940 - 1950
1940’s
In the 1940’s Essendon Airport was the busiest radio equipped aircraft aerodrome in Australia with 120 landings and take-offs each day.
1940
The first air traffic controllers are appointed to keep radio watch over aircraft in flight.
December 1942
War Cabinet approves acquisition of additional 266 acres (110 hectares) to expand Essendon Airport at an estimated cost of £110,000. This is in response to Cabinet approving a Master Plan for Essendon Aerodrome. During World War II, the airport continues to be used as an all-over grass field, with take-off’s and landings being permitted in any direction.
1944
Buildings 83 and 85 constructed to house the production of Beaufort Bombers by the Department of Aircraft Production. Building 83 has now been converted into a modern 3 storey office building whilst retaining the historical elements of the building.
1945
Victory Airshow celebrating the cessation of the second World War held at Essendon Airport.
June 1946
Cabinet approves construction of two sealed taxiways, runways and aprons (the airport as it is today).
1946
TAA (Trans-Australian Airlines) based at Essendon Airport.
The second control tower erected.
1946-1947
Concrete runways constructed (Runways 17/35 & 08/26)
January 1947
Airport Inspector Langevad presents his report to Government on a site for a second airport (Oaklands, Bulla Park, Somerton, Arcadia Park and Tullamarine). Tullamarine is recommended by Langevad as being most suitable for development.
1948
Water tower constructed to provide a static pressure on site to allow fire fighting to occur in the event of power failure in the local area. The tower is approximately 20m high.
1950
It becomes evident that Essendon Airport is too small to effectively handle large aircraft like the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. The trend in aviation towards larger aircraft dictates that a site sufficiently large to accommodate both wider, longer, and more runways will be required to meet aviation’s future needs.
February 1950
Federal Cabinet declares Essendon Airport an International airport and renamed “Melbourne Airport”
June 1951
First International flight arrives at Essendon Airport from New Zealand.
1953
Instrument Landing System (ILS) introduced.
1954
Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II lands at Essendon Airport for the Australian Royal Tour.
1956
Hangar 103 and 104 constructed by the Commonwealth Department of Civil Aviation as part of an assistance package to Ansett Airlines. These were used as maintenance hangars by Ansett-ANA until the 1970s.
1956
Present control tower is commissioned in time for the Olympic Games. During the Melbourne Olympic Games airport staff directed 206 International flights down safely during one week at Essendon Airport. Hangar 104 was used as the International terminal for the Olympics.
1956
Building 40 constructed to accommodate the Air Traffic Control Centre for Melbourne and Victoria. The building housed electronic air-navigation equipment, which was world leading technology at the time.
1958
International jet services commence.
January 1958
Two Qantas Super Constellations depart Essendon to circumnavigate the world in opposite directions, inaugurating Qantas “Round the World” services.
January 1959
Cabinet approves the acquisition of 2,167 hectares of land at Tullamarine for the purpose of establishing a new International Airport.
November 1959
New passenger terminal opened at Essendon Airport.
1960 - 1970
1964
The first two Boeing 727’s arrive at Essendon for Ansett –ANA and TAA, heralding the beginning of domestic jet services.
1964
Roy Orbison lands at Essendon Airport
1964
The Beatles land at Essendon Airport during their Australian Concert Tour. 5,000 screaming fans greeted the Beatles at the airport.
1966
President Lyndon B Johnson lands at Essendon Airport during his visit to Australia.
May 1966
Essendon Airport loses it’s title as Melbourne Airport. The title “Melbourne Airport” is transferred to the Tullamarine site, which is by then taking shape as an airport.
July 1970
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) officially opened for International operations.
July 1970
International operations transferred from Essendon Airport to Tullamarine.
June 1971
Domestic operations transferred from Essendon Airport to Tullamarine.
1980 - 1990
1987
Kylie Minogue films her first ever music video for her debut single “locomotion” at Essendon Airport.
January 1988
Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) took control of Essendon Airport.
1992
Pilot Briefing office closed.
1993
Runway 08/26 overlaid with asphalt at a cost of $2 million.
1995
Celebrated 75 birthday of the airport with a spectacular airshow!
2000 -
2000
First Master Plan for Essendon Airport approved.
September 2001
Linfox Group and Becton acquired a 99 year lease for Essendon Airport. The new owners goal is to re-establish the property as a vibrant commercial and aviation facility.
2006-2007
Armaguard facility Head Office opens.
2005
Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) and Homemaker Hub constructed on the South Eastern portion of the site at the Northern end of Bulla Road.
2007
Runway Lighting & Security Upgrade - The original aerodrome lighting was installed in the 1940s and 50s. Essendon Airport indentified the need to upgrade its runway lighting and installed high intensity runway lighting systems to assist during low visual operations and runway ground lighting system to reduce the risk of runway incursions.
2007
The Northern Access Road connecting Matthews Avenue and the Tullamarine Freeway to Wirraway Road was constructed. Wirraway Road and English Streets were also connected. To enable the Northern Aviation Apron to remain connected to the rest of the airport a unique ‘jet crossing’ (similar to a railway crossing) was designed and constructed on Wirraway Road.
2007
Four new state of the art hangars are built for corporate jets. The North/South runway 17/35 is shortened from 1585m to 1503m to accommodate the widening of the Tullamarine Freeway.
2007
Building 40 redevelopment and refurbishment completed. The building is named “The Everett Centre” after Percy Everett, Victoria’s Chief Architect who designed the original building to house the Area Control Centre for Melbourne and Victoria.
August 2008
The land encompassing Essendon Airport is officially proclaimed as the suburb of Essendon Fields and provided with its own post code 3041.
November 2008
Mrs Jean Burns unveiled Burns Street on the 3rd November, which was named in her honour. Jean obtained her pilots license in 1937 and later that year on the 21st November became the first Australian woman to jump from an aeroplane, she descended from a height of 3,200 feet over the Essendon Airport.
November 2008
Edgar Johnston Lane was unveiled by his proud daughter Wendye Camier on the 7th of November. Sir Charles Edgar Johnston was a fighter Pilot during World War One and later became responsible to the Controller of Civil Aviation for the licensing of all privately owned aerodromes and for the selection and preparation of landing grounds on the air routes throughout the Commonwealth. Within a few weeks he selected sites for Government Aerodromes in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.
November 2008
Bradfield Court named in honour of Dr. Keith Noel Everal 'Bill' Bradfield was opened on the 28th November by his son Peter. Dr Bradfield was personally responsible for the principal design work on the expansion of Essendon Airport and after a distinguished aviation career became the twenty-fifth recipient of the prestigious ICAO Edward Warner Medal, the highest award in civil aviation.
October 2008
Master Plan for Essendon Airport approved by Anthony Albanese MP (The Master Plan outlines the future for the airport’s development). The Master Plan covers the period 2008-2013.
February 2009
The Black Saturday Bushfire period resulted in the busiest period of aviation in recent years with a 25% increase in the number of aircraft movements for February compared with previous years (an additional 1,400 movements). Some 6,500 fire fighters were flown in by charter operators from across Australia and New Zealand, to assist with fire suppression activities.
March 2009
The official opening of the new Victorian Government emergency services hangar for Police and Ambulance and office complex located to the west of the northern runway threshold.
May 2009
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd opens the new Linfox Logisitics Head Office on English Street.
2009 – Onwards
Essendon Fields has extensive plans for the future development of the Essendon Airport and is currently developing 96 hectares and has plans to develop another 74 hectares over the next 10 – 20 years.
Some of the above information has been provided courtesy of Roger Meyer – Civil Aviation Historical Society and Susan Jennison OAM.