the area of the airport was originally known as st johns, after an early landowner. the airport was proclaimed as essendon aerodrome by the commonwealth government in 1921. for some time prior to proclamation, the aerodrome had been used by the victorian chapter of the australian aero club (renamed the royal victorian aero club), having initially been based at point cook. the aero club remained at essendon until the late 1940s when it transferred to moorabbin airport.