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Wartime igloos to world-class terminals – Brisbane Airport is marking a century of air travel.
As Brisbane Airport celebrates its centenary, we reflect on the evolution of our Domestic Terminal. From its ambitious planning in the 1970s to the role it plays today as the most connected network in Australia with 60+ domestic destinations, this Terminal has played a critical part in putting Brisbane on the world stage.
Designed to accommodate increasing passenger numbers, the new airport introduced a new location closer to Moreton Bay with modern facilities and amenities, setting a new standard for air travel in Brisbane.
For many, it holds a special place in their memories – whether as the gateway for Expo 88 visitors or as the workplace of Brisbane Airport employees who have dedicated decades here. Since its official opening in 1988, this Terminal has continued to evolve, with exciting upgrades currently underway as part of the Future BNE transformation.
From the departure lounges to the runways and taxiways, every piece of this iconic building has a story to tell. Read on to explore its journey through the decades.
The early vision and planning
By the 1970s, Brisbane’s original airport at Eagle Farm was reaching its limits. The site’s confined footprint restricted the lengthening of runways and the expansion of facilities, making it clear that a larger location was needed.
Eagle Farm has a long history, serving Brisbane’s aviation needs for decades. First used as a landing field in 1922 by Captain Jack Treacy, it was officially designated as an aerodrome in April 1925. It played a role in some of Brisbane’s most significant aviation milestones, including the landing of Charles Kingsford-Smith’s Southern Cross in 1928 after the first trans-Pacific flight. The airport was later redeveloped as a military airfield during World War II, with expanded infrastructure that supported wartime operations. After the war, commercial aviation resumed, and Eagle Farm remained Brisbane’s primary airport. However, by the late 1960s, it was clear that further development on the existing site would not be sufficient to meet future demand.
Planning began for a new airport, allowing for the construction of longer runways, expanded facilities, and the capacity to accommodate future aviation growth. The new location, 5kms north of Eagle Farm adjacent to Moreton Bay, provided the space needed to support this growth.
The master plan provided for scalable infrastructure and room for additional runways to handle up to 30 million passengers and 300,000 aircraft movements per year. Dedicated areas were set aside for freight, maintenance, and commercial developments, ensuring Brisbane Airport could continue to serve as a major domestic and international gateway for decades to come.
Constructing a new airport
Despite planning beginning in the 1970s, it wasn’t until the mid-1980s that construction on Brisbane’s new airport got underway. The delay was due to the sheer scale of the project and the complexity of preparing the site. The airport land was low-lying, boggy marshlands where the soil was so soft it required significant ground stabilisation before major works could begin. To achieve this, 14 million cubic metres of sand was dredged from Moreton Bay and used to stabilise the otherwise swampy land for the new terminals, aprons, taxiways and runway.
Once construction was underway, Brisbane Airport was transformed with a 3,500m main runway, 1,640m cross runway, and a 71m control tower were all part of the vision.
The Terminal’s design focused on both efficiency and passenger experience. Passengers were met with a sense of space and light designed to make the journey feel effortless. Lush tropical landscaping brought a touch of Queensland’s natural beauty indoors, while elevated walkways provided sweeping views of the Terminal below, creating a seamless flow between check-in and departure. Overhead, a striking barrel-vaulted ceiling with skylights bathed the space in natural light, enhancing the open, airy feel.
The grand opening
On March 19, 1988, Prime Minister Bob Hawke officially opened the new airport, marking the transition from Eagle Farm to the modern facility. The move coincided with Expo 88, an event that brought a surge of visitors to Brisbane.
At the time of opening, each domestic major domestic airline operated in their own dedicated concourse. With Australian Airlines (now Qantas domestic) occupying the northern half and Ansett occupying the southern half. Smaller carriers such as Compass and Eastwest operated from the central concourse. International flights had already moved from Eagle Farm to the Interim International Terminal in 1975, in preparation for an all-new international terminal to be opened in 1995.
Evolving to meet demand
Over the decades, Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal has continued to expand and modernise to keep up with demand. A notable upgrade in 2015 was the $10 million Virgin Satellite expansion, a year-long project completed while the Terminal was fully operational adding additional seating and office space. Watch the expansion unfold.
Alongside this, extensive renovations have taken place, including retail upgrades and improvements in passenger gate lounges.
The future of the Domestic Terminal
Looking ahead, Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal is set to continue evolving, with further upgrades underway. Key initiatives include the expansion of the multi-level car park, providing more spaces close to the terminal. Passengers with carry-on luggage will benefit from direct access via the Skywalk into a new security screening point equipped with the latest technology. A world-class centralised baggage system will replace three separate systems installed in the 1980s, complemented by automatic bag drop and self-check-in upgrades to streamline the travel process.
These developments are part of the broader Future BNE program, aiming to prepare the airport for expected population growth of the South East Queensland region and to provide a seamless, efficient, and enjoyable experience for all travellers.
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