Parafield Airport Air Traffic Control Tower facts for kids

The Parafield Airport Air Traffic Control Tower is a historic building in Parafield, South Australia. It helps guide airplanes safely. This tower is so important that it's listed on the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List. This means it's a special historic place that needs to be protected.

A Brief History of the Parafield Control Tower

The very first air traffic control (ATC) tower at Parafield Airport was built in 1937. It was a temporary wooden building. At that time, Parafield was a very busy airport. It handled regular flights to and from major cities like Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney.

The Original Operations Building

To replace the temporary towers, new "Operations and Administration" buildings were designed. These buildings were quite clever. They combined many airport functions into one place. This included air traffic control, passenger areas, and offices for airport staff. They even had a restaurant, rest rooms, a lounge, and a roof garden for passengers!

Between 1939 and 1941, similar buildings were built at three major Australian airports. These were Parafield (Adelaide), Mascot (Sydney), and Archerfield (Brisbane). They all looked very similar. They were three-storey buildings with a cool, modern "Moderne-style" design. They had sleek lines, round porthole windows, and flat roofs.

Parafield During World War II

Parafield's new building was placed where the old temporary tower used to be. It faced south, looking over the area where planes parked. Back then, controllers used flags, flares, and large colored balls to talk to aircraft. They also had radios to coordinate activities on the ground and with other airfields.

During World War II, the RAAF used Parafield Airport for flight training. They mainly used small Tiger Moth planes. After the war, it became clear that Parafield wouldn't be big enough for Adelaide's future aviation needs. So, a new main airport was planned.

Parafield's Role Today

Parafield continued as Adelaide's main civilian airport until 1955. That's when the new Adelaide Airport opened. After that, Parafield became Adelaide's airport for general aviation. This means it's used for smaller planes, flight training, and private flights. It still has this role today.

In 1981, the original control cabin on top of the building was removed. It was replaced with a larger, octagonal (eight-sided) cabin. This new cabin was more typical of towers built in Australia from the late 1970s.

What the Tower Looks Like

The Parafield Airport Air Traffic Control Tower is about 450 square meters in size. It's located at the corner of Kittyhawk Lane and Anderson Drive. The control cabin on top faces directly south. From there, controllers have a clear view of the large apron (the area where planes park) to the west and east. The roof of the cabin is about 25 meters (about 82 feet) above the ground.

Outside the Tower

The main part of the Parafield building is a three-storey brick building from 1939–40. It has a symmetrical, stepped design. On top of this, there's the octagonal air traffic control cabin. This cabin, and the square level just below it, were added in 1981. They are covered in a material called Colorbond. A steel walkway goes all around the cabin.

The building was designed with two main sides. One side faced the runways (the "aerodrome elevation," which is the south side at Parafield). The other side had the main entrance (the "road elevation," which is the north side).

The biggest change to the Parafield building is the new, larger control cabin from the 1980s. Also, most of the original steel window frames have been replaced with aluminum ones. The north side of the building looks simpler. It has a rendered (smooth plaster) finish. You can still see the old winged logo of the Department of Civil Aviation above the main entrance. Some small, round "porthole" windows are still there on the first floor.

The south side of the tower also has the stepped, modern look. It's more detailed, with a curved section on all three levels. This curved part was designed to give views of the apron and access to it. The original control cabin (now gone) was also curved. The new 1981 cabin is octagonal. The side (east and west) walls are painted render on the upper levels and red brick at the bottom.

Inside the Tower

The inside of the ground floor has changed a lot over the years. Originally, the entrance led to a long hallway. There was a large waiting hall for passengers, a small curved kiosk, and a buffet. Offices and toilets were also on this floor.

Today, the old waiting hall is used by the Flight Training Centre Adelaide. It has been divided into meeting rooms and offices. The finishes, like carpets and tiles, are modern. Some original parts remain, like certain skirting boards and a frosted circular light above the doorway to the apron.

The reinforced concrete staircase still has its original modern style. It has a double-thick central wall with a wooden top and a wooden handrail supported by painted steel hoops. The first floor is mostly still in its original layout. A central hallway leads to four offices. There was also a private area for pilots, with bedrooms, a toilet, bathroom, and dining room. This area hasn't changed much.

The second floor has changed quite a bit. It used to have a Radio Office, Radio Room, Meteorological Office, and Meteorological Room. Now, it has a central hallway with a large equipment room and offices. A steel staircase leads up to the two-storey addition from 1981 on the roof. This addition includes a recorder room and toilets.

The inside of the 1981 control cabin has a central console (a control desk) and special features to reduce noise. There's also a small kitchen area. The cabin's interior has not changed much since it was built in 1981.

How Much of the Original Building Remains?

The biggest change to the outside of the building is the new control cabin from 1981. The original cabin was a key part of the building's design. Even with this change, the three-storey base building still looks like a "Moderne" style building. Most of the outside materials are still original, though many window and door frames have been replaced.

Inside, many parts have been changed, especially on the ground and second floors. The first floor is more like its original design. The control tower cabin and its square base are mostly unchanged since 1981.

Why the Tower is a Heritage Site

The Parafield Airport Air Traffic Control Tower was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on January 22, 2016. This means it's recognized as an important part of Australia's history.

Important Historical Processes

The Parafield Air Traffic Control tower is strongly linked to a key time in the development of air traffic control in Australia. It was one of three almost identical "Operations and Administration" buildings built in major capital cities between 1939 and 1941. The others were in Sydney (Mascot) and Brisbane (Archerfield).

The Parafield tower is special because it still works as an air traffic control tower today, even with its newer cabin. It has likely been used for air traffic control longer than any other building in Australia.

A Rare Example

Even though the original control cabin is gone, the Parafield ATC tower is a rare example of an early air traffic control facility. It was built before World War II and was part of a larger terminal building.

Only three of these combined control and terminal buildings were built before the war. All three still exist, but they are all considered rare in Australia. They are important examples of early air traffic control and aviation buildings.

Shows Important Characteristics

This tower is a good example of a type of control tower that was important in the history of airport buildings.