Melbourne Airport Tullamarine

Discover the story of Tullamarine, from planning and opening to its modern status as a benchmark for international airports.

Melbourne Airport, better known to locals as ‘Tullamarine’ or ‘Tulla’, was the first purpose-built Airport City in the world. Its facilities in 1970 were unsurpassed by any international airport – it had a golf course, hotel, conference centre, art gallery, cinema, bottle shop, exhibition space, multiple bars, VIP lounge, and a fine dining restaurant with an executive chef soon to have three Michelin stars. These facilities were built into Tullamarine’s plan by its principal planner and protagonist, Bill Bradfield, the son of John Bradfield, chief engineer of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Today, Tullamarine remains at the cutting edge, with new and expanding terminals, upgraded car parks, more efficient roads, a new third runway recently approved, and a rail link soon to be in the works.