Another superb and rare colour shot inside Essendon Tower in 1963. At the Aerodrome Controller (ADC) position at left is Kelvin (K.D.) Klauber, in the middle at the Coordinator (COORD) position is Bill Rowe, and on the right at the Surface Movement Controller (SMC) position is Roxy Hart. Standing in the background is Laurie Cummings. Click here to see a photo of the Tower console.

Also in the background between Cummings and Hart can be seen the curtained 'cubby house' which housed the display for the 40NM range Cossor radar. The raw display for this radar had to be viewed in dark conditions, hence the cubby house. The principal means of control was still procedural, although responsibility for specific separation problems could be assigned to the radar controller. This was the only radar available until the late 1960s when a new radar Area Approach Control Centre (AACC) was opened at the new Tullamarine Airport with coverage out to 160NM and a full radar Approach/Departure service.

Click here to see an external shot of the Tower as it is today.

(Photo: Trevor O'Heir/CAHS collection)

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