In order to provide suitable facilities for the expected influx of competitors and visitors to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, DCA decided to speed up construction of a spacious new igloo hangar, which was being built at Essendon for Ansett-ANA, and make that into a temporary International Terminal. The hangar was fitted out with temporary partitions and - of course - a set of plywood Olympic Rings!

These rare colour photos show the inside of the 'Terminal'. The area above, under the Olympic rings, was an airline administration area. A line of domestic travel posters decorates the panelling and at the far end is the Trans Australia Airlines Traffic Office and booking desk, complete with scales and model aircraft.

The photo above from the opposite end of the Terminal shows the airline Traffic Offices in the distance. In the background, queueing barricades for departing passengers leading to customs and immigration.

In the final shot, above, we see a general view of the opposite wall of the Terminal. The first kiosk on the left is the Combined Banks Reception Centre where, presumably, visitors could exchange currency and such like. The second kiosk is a general Enquiries counter. Although the facilities look positively primitive by today's standards, at the time they were considered perfectly adequate.

Click here to read more about the Terminal and the Olympics