When was the QF Domestic terminal built?

[Jack B]

When was the current QF Domestic terminal built?

I'm assuming late 90s because I know in 94/95 it was still the 1970s build TAA terminal with the "porthole" windows and blue aerobridges - there was an extension in the 1980s for the A300, I believe.

Does anybody have any photos of the "old' terminal, especially of the interior?

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Yes late 90's from memory as I was a courier around that time and I had a delivery of insulation for the terminal. I got access from the gate near the Airservices building and got escorted to the site. I was left there and had to dodge a few a/c to get back and out.

The aerobridges you mention were from the Australian Airlines era and before that there were the multi-coloured sections (evident in this old photo to the left of the LH tail) in the TAA days.

[Kent Broadhead]

I suspect you don't mean this one, most of which is, of course still there, but rarely commented upon....

[Ben Smith]

Aha, this is something I've been wondering about.

Is the gate 17 -18 (I think?) area used for Canberra Dash 8 flights a remainder of this older terminal?

That would explain the ramps needed to compensate for the different floor levels, the musty smells and much more enclosed feeling in this area. I always liken arriving from Canberra, like entering a rabbit warren. Another thing I've noticed is that the two remaining aero-bridges are of the fixed type that only go up or down, rather than the newer ones that can positioned where ever necessary.

I have done a brief search for photos on airliners.net , but they are all too new (I guess the sate library or NLA might be a better place to look?) I had only flown in or out of the AN domestic terminal before the early 2000's so I don't remember much of the TN/QF side of things.

[Kent Broadhead]

Hope it's OK to link to another forum for a pic, but the airside view is the building behind the Dash 300 in this shot. I'm pretty sure there are 3 gate lounges in the northern end (LHS in the above shot) of the building. Compass (Mk2 at least) and Eastern (or maybe Hazelton pre-Ansett ownership) used the southern end (where the bus is in the original shot) in the mid-90s.

[Jack B]

I have a feeling that building functioned as the East West terminal...

There is an aerial photo I have somewhere from around 1980ish that shows the TAA terminal with the multi coloured aerobridges. It suggests there was a building expansion later on because there are only 3 or 4 gates and a large empty space next to the terminal in between what I think is Hangar 96. This was a fairly modern-ish looking building for the time with dark glass built on the site of the original International terminal which was closed in 1970.

The "old old' building pictured above has East West F-27s parked in front, however there is no reason TAA Fokkers didn't also use that terminal

The Ansett terminal at the time had part of the pier which I assume is the same as that used today but the "Facade" of their terminal looked much more dated than TAA's building, almost like a hangar with "ANSETT" lettering.

If I find the photo I'll scan it as it may be of interest