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Wartime igloos to world-class terminals – Brisbane Airport is marking a century of air travel. Join us as we celebrate 100 years of connecting families, launching adventures, and bringing Brisbane to the world – this is our story, Brisbane's story.
From Kingsford-Smith's historic Pacific crossing (1928) to orchestrating the G20's diplomatic dance of 70 aircraft (2014), read on for a snapshot of our history and milestone events.
History buffs can explore our complete century timeline for an in-depth look at Brisbane Airport's journey.
Pre-European Settlement (pre 1800s)
The land on which Brisbane Airport stands today has a rich indigenous heritage. The Turrbal and Yuggera people's connection to this country stretched from Logan to North Pine, spanning thousands of years. Bora Rings (ceremonial grounds) dotted the land and are believed to have been used at the time of European settlement. Transient camps, including on Cribb Island and Myrtletown, were known to the area suggesting the land’s freshwater swamps, floodplains and wetlands were used as a place for hunting and gathering.
European Settlement (1800s)
By 1829, the landscape began its first transformation as the Eagle Farm Agricultural Reserve. Female convicts, tasked with building what would become Kingsford Smith Drive, worked the land, not knowing that it would one day launch aircraft to all corners of the globe. The arrival of rail lines in the 1880s and 1890s brought new life to the region – the Sandgate line in 1882 and Pinkenba line in 1897 setting the stage for further industrial development.
The Early Years and WWII Efforts (1925-1946)
In 1925, as Brisbane was finding its identity as a growing city, Eagle Farm Aerodrome was built from 36 hectares of farmland. History was made when Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross touched down in 1928, drawing a crowd of 25,000 spectators.
Flight operations ceased temporarily in 1931 as the site was deemed too swampy and was used for grazing land until Australia entered World War II.
World War II transformed this modest airfield into a crucial military hub as the Royal Australian Air Force used the site for training purposes. American forces replaced the grass strips with hard surface runways, while distinctive timber truss igloo-shaped hangars were erected to meet the urgent demand for Terminal buildings. The site was one of many airports and fields throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory that played a key part in defending the nation.
Remnant sites still present include an American built runway at the airport, the heritage-listed Hangar No. 7 and the former Allison Testing Stands in Eagle Farm. Hangar 7 was used in secret for the reconstruction and research of Japanese aircraft during the war.
Post War Era (1946-1980)
While operations had moved to Archerfield Airport, World War II saw Eagle Farm reinstated as the preferred site for ongoing aviation activity in Brisbane. Throughout the 1950s to 1980s Brisbane Airport sat on approximately 16.2km2 of land and housed three Terminal buildings (past wartime igloos). Two of these igloos serviced domestic carriers Ansett and Trans Australia Airlines while one catered to all international services.
Queen Elizabeth II's 1954 arrival marked a new era of distinguished visitors and by 1959, the first Qantas jet to London shortened the tedious journey between Brisbane and Britain.
The popularisation of air travel confirmed the need for a new airport facility, resulting in 2,700 hectares of land being set aside for a new Brisbane Airport site.
The Modern Era (1961-1994)
The 1960s to early 1990s saw major growth of US and Asian airlines and services, a visit from The Beatles in 1964, as well as a master plan for the future Brisbane Airport announced by PM William McMahon and Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen in 1971.
The plan for the new airport involved moving the site from the original Eagle Farm Aerodrome, 5kms closer to Moreton Bay. Construction of the new airport commenced in 1980 and 14 million cubic metres of sand dredged from Moreton Bay was used to stabilise the otherwise swampy land for the new terminals, aprons, taxiways and runway.
In 1988 a new runway and Terminal complex (now the Domestic Terminal) was officially opened by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, just in time to welcome visitors for World Expo ‘88 and put Brisbane on the global stage. This same year Eagle Farm Aerodrome saw its final departure and arrival.
Today's BNE (1995-2025)
A new chapter began in July 1997 when Brisbane Airport Corporation purchased the airport from the Federal Government, following legislation that privatised Australia's major airports. What followed was a period of strong growth and transformation – though not without its challenges.
The aviation industry faced major hurdles: the September 11 attacks in 2001 brought sweeping changes to security, while the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 temporarily brought international travel to a standstill. Yet Brisbane Airport emerged stronger after each.
These decades saw ambitious developments take shape and dedicated investment in infrastructure upgrades. Both terminals underwent significant expansions to welcome a growing number of travellers, culminating in one of our most important logistical moments – hosting 26 world leaders and coordinating 70 diplomatic flights for the 2014 G20 Summit. In 2020, Brisbane Airport doubled its capacity with the new parallel runway that positioned Brisbane for future growth.
The airport's infrastructure growth has been complemented by its commitment to community and sustainability. The 2016 Reconciliation Action Plan was an important step in celebrating First Nations culture, while sustainability initiatives helped achieve net-zero emissions (Scope 1 and 2) in January 2025.
Future BNE (2025 to 2032 and beyond)
By 2045 Brisbane Airport expects to welcome 50 million passengers each year. To ensure we have the right facilities for our passengers, we're investing $5 billion in Terminal upgrades and precinct-wide projects, including the addition of a third Terminal as we prepare for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
From a grassy field to a world-class aviation hub, Brisbane Airport's story mirrors our city's evolution.
As we look to the future, we will continue to play a key role in our city’s story – improving the way you travel, creating jobs and working to build a brighter Brisbane for 2032 and beyond.
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