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.