Essendon Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, historic commonwealth heritage site in Strathmore VIC
The Essendon Airport Air Traffic Control Tower is a tall, square building made of steel and asbestos cement sheets with an octagonal cabin on top. It sits on a raised base with three floors and large windows overlooking the airfield.
The first wooden tower was built in 1938, but in 1956 it was replaced by this modern tower for the Melbourne Olympic Games. After 1970, international flights moved to the new Tullamarine airport, yet this tower remained in service.
The tower reflects 1950s engineering, a time when aviation in Australia became more organized and safer. Its red paint and visible structure show how people worked together to manage the skies and protect travelers.
The tower is located at the corner of Wirraway Road and English Street and is easy to find. Visitors can view the structure from outside and learn about the airport's history through Commonwealth Heritage List information.
The console room was modernized in 1967, yet many original features remain intact. The building is one of only a few 1950s control towers built to international standards that still survives today.
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