Back in January we told you the tale of Hangar 3 getting a new spark on life, with Essendon Fields committing over half a million dollars to complete an electrical rewire. Next up on the heritage row of Wirraway Road is Hangar 6, who has recently enjoyed a makeover thanks to a comprehensive repainting operation.

Higgins Coatings, one of the leading commercial and industrial painting service providers in Australia, completed the works which has returned the gable-roofed, steel-framed hangar to its former glory.

First erected in 1939 for what was then Australian National Airways (ANA), to supplement the airline’s other hangars located in Hangar 4 and Hangar 5, it continued to be used by ANA for many years, then by its successor company, Ansett. Following the company’s transfer of operations to Tullamarine in the 1970s, the 1,064 sqm hangar has subsequently been leased to various tenants.

Essendon Fields’ Facilities Manager, Ashley Young, says careful attention was paid to ensure that not only did the repainting remain faithful to the history of the building, but also that it ensured  there were no interruptions to operations of the hangar’s current tenant, Avoinics 2000.

“Paint treatments were selected based on paint analysis, in order to keep with the original treatments,” says Ms Young.

“The hangar doors have been painted Monument Grey with a Surfmist façade. You might notice that across the precinct we alternate this combination with the hangar doors in Surfmist and a Monument Grey façade,’’ she said.

The hangar has five sliding doors with fixed panels between that open to the east and multi-paned windows which are set into the eastern gable end above the sliding doors. The roof originally had square roof lights in metal sheeting, but the roof cladding and lights have been replaced with a strip pattern and ridge capping that broadly matches the adjacent and more recent (c 1960s) Hangars 7 and 8.

To the west, a skillion-roofed addition contains a short projecting porch used for carparking, with various contemporary entrances, glazing and roller doors. Above this addition, large, square, four-paned steel framed windows are set into the gable end of the hangar.

The painting makeover was a substantial investment of over $50,000 for Essendon Fields, utilising over 400 litres of paint.

“Our intent is always to ensure works impact minimally on tenants, and if that means they have to take that little bit longer to facilitate that’s completely fine. Airside access also had to be arranged to paint the hangar doors in particular, and that requires working with our Airport Safety Officers,” said Ms Young.

“The process started in November last year and finished earlier this month, and ensure that there is a sustainable future for this important building in Australia’s aviation history.’’

For more information on Hangar 6 and the rest of the heritage row of Wirraway Road buildings visit ef100.com.au.