History

The Hobart International Airport site was once a rural property called ‘Llanherne’.

Construction of the airport – which cost £760,000* – was announced in 1948 by Prime Minister Benjamin Chifley. It was officially opened eight years later in 1956.

The airport became the fifth busiest in Australia after 120,086 passengers passed through in its first full year of operation.

The federal government ran the airport until 1988, when the Tasmanian Gateway Consortium took over operations.

There was a massive drop in the airport’s operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has long since recovered. In 2022, over two million passengers passed through the terminals.

Hobart Airport released a Master Plan in 2022 with the aim of creating a welcoming environment for visitors and locals alike.

* Over $32 million today.

Infrastructure

When it opened in 1956, Hobart International Airport had a small terminal building, a couple of freight hangars, and an administration centre – but it has since expanded significantly.

It now consists of two terminals (one domestic and the other international), a 2,727-metre runway, a four-star hotel, and many other amenities.

The existing terminal building is currently undergoing a $200 million upgrade. Hutchinson Builders will be adding more space, and there will be additional food and retail choices once this work is completed in early 2027.

There is also in progress an upgrade of the runway so that it will be able to accommodate larger and heavier aircraft. Although this is expected to pave the way for more international flights, as yet no carrier has committed to servicing destinations such as Asia or beyond.

The control tower at Hobart International Airport (1967).

Tas That Was is a column that includes:

  • anecdotes of life in Tasmania in the past;
  • historical photographs of locations in Tasmania; and/or
  • documentaries about locations in Tasmania.

If you have an anecdote or photograph you’d like to share with us, please send it to [email protected].

Callum J. Jones studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania. He has written fiction and non-fiction for Tasmanian Times since 2018. He can be traced by the smell of fresh coffee.

Follow him on Twitter (@Callum_Jones_10) and Facebook (@callum.j.jones.creative).