Essendon Airport is an Australian post-punk collective that pioneered experimental minimalist and electronic music throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. Founded in 1978 by Robert Goodge (guitar) and David Chesworth (Wurlitzer electric piano), the group began as an instrumental duo employing homemade drum machines to craft their distinctive sound. The ensemble expanded to a full four-piece with the addition of drummer Paul Fletcher and saxophonist Ian Cox, later solidifying as a five-piece with bassist Barbara Hogarth in 1982.
The band's sonic palette blended post-punk sensibilities with funk grooves and electronic experimentation, establishing them as innovators within Australia's underground music scene during their initial 1978–83 run. Following a 25-year hiatus, Essendon Airport reformed in 2003 as a trio featuring core members Goodge and Chesworth alongside pedal steel guitarist Evil Graham Lee, subsequently performing intermittently with various configurations of original and former members. Their legacy remains rooted in their fearless integration of synthesizers, drum machines, and unconventional instrumentation within the post-punk framework.
