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Produced and published by the School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne
Published July 2008
Published July 2008
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In 1960, federal cabinet approved construction of a new international airport at Tullamarine to accommodate international DC-8 and Boeing 707 jet aircraft. An area of 2167 ha of semi-rural land on a plateau between the Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek was purchased from 29 separate owners, and construction of two 1.5 metre-thick runways commenced in November 1964. The Air Traffic Control Centre and control tower commenced operation in 1967, the international passenger terminal in June 1970, and the domestic terminal a year later. The airport passed into private ownership in 1997.