From its beginnings in 1921 the Department was charged with the responsibility for providing landing grounds along the major air routes. Over the years, the Department established, owned and maintained nearly every licenced airport and aerodrome in the country until, in the 1980s, the Aerodrome Local Ownership Plan and other airport disposal schemes saw the Department divest itself of the ownership of almost all aerodromes and airports.

This page provides links to information about the Department's involvement with airports and aerodromes.

Consult a list of Unit and equipment acronyms used on this site

Read about The Early Days of Civil Aerodromes

Photos of early Aerodrome Site Selection - 1921

INDIVIDUAL AIRPORTS & AERODROMES

Photos of the first runway strips laid anywhere in Australia at Longreach - 1925

Photo of the WAA hangar flooded at Maylands - 1926

Mascot Aerodrome as it was Experienced by Neville Watson

Aerial photo of Sydney/Mascot - c.1930

See a strip map of the Melbourne-Adelaide air route, including aerodrome diagrams - 1939

Adelaide/Parafield Operations-Administration Building & Control Tower - 1940s, 1960s

Superb aerial photos of Parafield - 1948 & 1965

Photos of Hobart/Cambridge Aerodrome - 1934, 1942
Runway layout - 1955

Photos of the 'Government Hangar', Essendon Aerodrome c.1930s

View the Essendon ATC complex - c. early 1950s

Photos and early history of Mangalore aerodrome - c.1950 and the VAR Approach Chart -1967

Take a look at the airport 'Terminal' at Ingham - 1959

Photo of the special International Terminal at Essendon for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games

Charts showing the layout of Melbourne's Essendon Airport in 1960 & 1968

Aerial photos of Essendon Airport - 1963, 2004, 2007

Photos from the opening of Quirindi aerodrome -1957

An aerial view of Sydney/Kingsford Smith airport in June 1958

Photo of Mackay Tower and Terminal - 1960s

Photo of Devonport Control Tower and Terminal - 1965

Brisbane/Archerfield:

• Aerial photos - 1931
• Then & Now - c. mid-1930s/2006
• Aerial photos - 1965; Pages 1 & 2
  
• Photo of the Ops-Admin Building c.late 1960s
  
• Views of the Tower cab - 1974
• Then & Now - overviews from 1965 & 2006
• Historic buildings - 2006

Aerial colour photo of Ceduna c.1955

Photo of Cloncurry aerodrome terminal c.early 1960s

Photo of Cootamundra aerodrome c.1960s

Photo of the old Adelaide/West Beach terminal building and Control Tower, c. late 1960s

Photos of the unique railway crossing at Wynyard - 1971

Overviews of Karratha - mid-1980s

Aerial photos of Charleville aerodrome - 2001

Aerial photos of Brisbane Airport - 2005

Aerial photo of Dubbo - 2007

< Download a short history of Moorabbin Airport & Control Tower by clicking on the icon at left. (260 KB .pdf file)

Tour Karumba Flying Boat Base - 1938

Rose Bay Flying Boat Base - opening Aug 1938, more photos 1939, aerial photo c.1942-43, c.1950

Photo of DCA Control Launch C.A.15 at Rose Bay - 1969

Drawing of Aerodrome Ground Markings -1928

The Signal Square

The more modern Signal Area

Photo of a typical Rotating Aerodrome Beacon

Photo of a typical Illuminated Wind Indicator

The Calvert Cross Bar Approach Lighting System

Spraying runway markings - 1959

Aerial photo showing typical Precision Approach Runway markings - Brisbane 2007

Photo of the ubiquitous Airport Safety Officer and vehicle - 1984

Photos of and information about a Linesman at work splicing a cable - 2007

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