A new era of travel began at Kingsford Smith International Airport with construction of a modern overseas passenger terminal and extension of the main runway into Botany Bay.
The new terminal was opened by the Queen on May 3, 1970, and the first Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet to land on the extended runway was Pan American's Clipper Flying Cloud, which flew in on October 4 that year.
As part of the expansion of the airport to cope with a huge increase in passengers numbers, Southern Cross Drive was built at a cost of $9 million as an express road connection to the city.
Photos in the Leader in April, 1965, showed where the terminal would be built on the expansive site – a long way in the distance from an unsecured dirt road entered from General Holmes Drive.
The report said St George would gain little benefit from the £20 million ($40 million) development project, comprising the new terminal costing £10 million ($20 million), the runway extension £6 million ($12 million) and new communications centre £4 million ($8 million).
St George County Council was dissatisfied it would not share in construction of electrical infrastructure.
“After construction of the new runway and the tunnel on General Holmes Drive, the district will lose more than a mile of beachfront,” the Leader reported.
“Signs already have been erected along the beach warning people not to litter.
“It is a favourite spot for picnickers and also used extensively by water skiers.
“The runway, which will extend more than 3000 feet (914 metres) into Botany Bay could affect nearby beaches.
“Claims were made recently that the dredging work being carried had caused sand to disappear from one beach in Rockdale municipality.
“Access to the new airport terminal will be from the Arncliffe side.”
The report said work on the tunnel on General Holmes Drive under the runway extension would be “one of the biggest projects of its type undertaken in Australia”.
The tunnel would be 1245 feet (914 metres) long, about the same length as the Cahill Expressway tunnel, and would hold more concrete than the Gladesville bridge.
“It is expected to be in operation by 1967.”
In July, 1965, the Leader gained a scoop with the first image, an artist’s impression, of the new international terminal.
The report said construction would start by the end of the year and was expected to be completed in 1969.
The first extension of the north-south runway into Botany Bay soon found to be inadequate and the strip was extended further in the late 1970s.
A parallel, third runway was added in the 1990s.
LEADER FLASHBACK
Every Friday we delve into the Leader archives to embark on some time travel.
We will bring you photographs of a news event from 57 years of Leader news coverage that you may or may not recall.
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