Article © 2013 David Eyre
Upon seeing the AviationWA website article about the impending demolition of on the Perth Airport 1962 control tower, Allan Churn contacted AAWA President David Eyre to inquire about obtaining the glass “cab” from the tower or the fire station, for use at another airfield, such as the SABC airfield at Serpentine, south of Perth, or Bunbury.
If demolished, the tower was going to be taken to the rubbish tip, so it was hoped that the tower cab could be saved and continue in its designed role.
AAWA arranged with Perth Airport for the demolition engineer to contact Allan to see what could be done. Allan later arranged an escorted visit to inspect the interior of the tower and took the below photos on 4 March 2011.
Unfortunately, a combination of issues prevented the glass cab being saved:
- Lifting the cab from the tower would require engineers to spend extra time cutting the metal structure holding the cab in place
- A large truck was required to transport the cab, and a tall crane to lift the cab off the tower (with associated costs);
- It was possible that the cab would be damaged during removal due to twisting of the structure;
- There was asbestos in the roof and gutters, with special health and safety requirements to safely remove this;
- The tower was still owned by Airservices Australia;
- There was insufficient time available to make the necessary arrangements.
Photos © Allan Churn
Below is the location of the 1962 tower and fire station on the airport:
BELOW: Allan Churn prepared this picture to illustrate how the tower cab could be used at Serpentine Airfield, if it had been possible. (The cab is actually larger than depicted.)
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The fire station cab (foreground), with the control tower behind. |
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Close-up of the control tower |
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The fire station cab |
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Amenities room |
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Top of stairwell. |
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Top of stairwell, facing southwest. |
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Desk inside the tower cab.Originally, there were radio panels and instruments here. |
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Desk inside the tower cab.Originally, there were radio panels and instruments here. |
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Desk inside the tower cab.Originally, there were radio panels and instruments here. |
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Ceiling inside the tower cab. |
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View towards the Qantas Domestic Terminal. |
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View towards Terminal 3. |
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View towards city and aircraft parking area. |
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View south towards runways 03 and 06. |
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View toward the International Terminal. |
BELOW: Mosaic view facing east.
More articles and photos about the 1962 control tower and fire station, on the AirwaysMuseum.com website:
A photo inside the tower circa 1965
Hi, I would like some information about he history of the Perth Airport. In 1953, my father was transferred from Broome, to Perth, and he worked at a building at the Airport, I was only 6 years of age and he took me and the family to see it. What I do remember was very big ( tall ) steel cupboards with lots of plugs and wire coming out of them ( could have been communications instruments or computers of the day ) As my father has now passed away, could someone be able to tell me more about where he worked, he did work for the Department of Civil Aviation, and we lived on the old Maida Vale Road, to Kalamunda, my father rode a bike to work, as the airport was not far away. Would any information about this be emailed to me. Kind Regards, Patricia
Hi Patricia,
Have sent yuou an email with a contact who may be able to assist.