History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australian Radio History/On this day/September

On this day - September

1 September

6WF Perth 1929 Last Australian station to move from long wave (240 KHz.) to medium wave. Programming was taken over by the privately owned Australian Broadcasting Company with 60 minutes of advertising daily. Photo is Walter Coxon who started 6WF.

6WF Perth 1929: Broadcast the first stereo experiments in Australia. This was achieved by broadcasting a live play with two microphones. Each microphone was fed into separate transmitters on different frequencies. Listeners needed two receivers to hear stereo.

1935: Most stations changed their frequency when 10 KHz. spacing was introduced.

1976: Tobacco advertising was banned on radio and television.

2 September

4IP Ipswich 1935. Launched with 50 watts. First manager was Jim Jordan from 4JJ. Initially relayed some programs from 4BK. Their first studio had glass walls to allow visitors to watch. Used a locally built three channel mixer (microphone, turntable, and a radio tuned to 4BK). All initial announcers were auditioned locally with no previous experience. Known as “Station 4IP in the Heart of Ipswich”. Railway station announcements and train whistles were often heard when the microphone was on.

2MW Murwillumbah 1937. Started by local radio dealers Carl and Tom Small, and the Budd family using 100 watts. Known as “The Popular Station of the North East” (later “The Voice of the Far North Coast”). Opened a relay studio and office in Southport in 1958. Moved their main offices and studios from Murwillumbah to Tweed Heads in June 1985. Sold to 2SM in 1989.

2SM Sydney 1963: Launched the very successful promotion “The Good Guys”.

3 September

1939: All experimental and amateur radio and television licenses were cancelled due to security concerns with WWII.

4 September

9AD Aitape (T.P.N.G.) 1945. Australian Army station using 200 watts on 1180 KHz. Established by Eric McRae from 9AG, 3SR, and 7HO. Their announcers were Laidley Mort from 3AR/3LO, and 3UZ, Arthur Pettet from 2UE, and Norm Spencer from 3DB

5 September

2FC Sydney 1927: Originated the first of the “Empire Broadcasts” by relaying to the U.K., South Africa, India, Canada, and the U.S.A. Photo is their 1927 QSL card.

6 September

3XY Melbourne 1948: Both their towers on top of the Princess Theatre were blown down.

7 September

2KA Katoomba 1935. Started at Medlow Bath, with 100 watts. Installed by Wally Grant from 2KY, who also installed the 2LT equipment. In 1937 the studio moved to Bligh Street in Sydney, taking programs from all six commercial stations. Then moved to Katoomba above the Rural Bank, as “The Voice of the Mountains”, but had more listeners in Lithgow.

8 September

3XY Melbourne 1935. Broadcast from the Princess Theatre as “Your Quality Station” with 600 watts. Founded by theatrical and movie pioneer Frank Thring Sr. Inherited by actor Frank Thring Jr. aged 10 in 1936. First manager was Tom Holt, father of Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Harold Holt. 15 year old Bob Rogers (now 2CH) began his career as a turntable operator in 1942. Put off the air when their two towers on top of the Princess Theatre were blown down on 6-9-1948. Bert Newton started his career as a 12 year old junior announcer, reading advertisements for the “Peters Pals” children’s show (20,000 members). Joined with 3DB, 3UZ, and 3AW to apply for a television licence in 1953. Graham Kennedy had a studio in his house for his programs 1970-1971. During a Billy Thorpe interview in 1973, a man arrived with a shotgun demanding to see him. Rated number one for most of the 1970s-1980s.

9 September

1946. The ABC announced numerous announcer positions available across Australia.

10 September

9AJ Wewak (T.P.N.G.) 1945. Australian Army station. The entire station was built into a three ton truck except for their ten watt transmitter. Their announcer was Ian Neil from 4BH, 4SB, and 4BK (earlier on 9AB, later well-known on the A.B.C.). Made radio history by broadcasting live the first Japanese war crime trials in P.N.G. Photo is their program manager John Rann.

11 September

3KZ Melbourne 1932: They issued a statement saying “television will never be introduced into Australia”.

3HS Horsham 1933: Owned by Jack Ward, owner of the Horsham Times and the New Sunraysia. They changed their callsign to 3LK Lubeck on 02-1-1937.

12 September

5SSA Adelaide 1980: (Later known as SAFM). Their launch slogan was “I Hear the Music for the First Time”.

13 September

3WR Shepparton 1934. (Previously at Wangaratta from 1-12-1924). Changed to 3SR on 1-2-1937.

3XY Melbourne 1954: Put off the air by a fire.

14 September

2RG Griffith 1936. The licence was granted in June 1935 to Radio Griffith, with facilities situated in the Area News building (the Area News was a major shareholder, but when contacted for this research, they denied all knowledge, even though they also acted as the stations advertising agent). The Area News editor, Dr. Leo Jones, was also the Managing Director of the station, and later helped establish MTN-9 TV. Their first manager and Chief Announcer was Cyril James from 2UE. Their opening was a live broadcast of “Australia’s Amateur Hour” with over 1,000 people attending at the Rio Theatre, with compere Terry Dear. An announcer once emptied a jar of 78 R.P.M. needles out the studio window, and an irate woman then burst into the studio while the microphone was on, and berated the announcer because the needles had scattered through her new hairdo.

15 September

4AM Mareeba 1967. Launched to cover the Atherton-Mareeba district. Started by manager Frank Bellet from 4KQ. The original studios were in Yungaburra, with a relay studio in Atherton. Made a 6% profit in their first year. Moved to Mareeba in 1972. All the original equipment was kept on display in 2007 for their 40th anniversary. Their slogan was “You have to get up early to beat 4AM”.

16 September

2MV Moss Vale 1931: Their owner, W. Young, developed memory loss as a result of being gassed in France during WW1, and was forced to close the station. The licence, equipment, and pre-fab building, were transferred to Goulburn and became 2GN three months later.

6KG Kalgoorlie 1931. Started by local tradesmen in the Methodist church hall, three hours each evening using 100 watts. Known as “The Heart of the State”. The Royal Flying Doctor Service Radio Base was operated by 6KG announcers from its start in 1937 until 1939.

5MU Murray Bridge 1934. Their opening was delayed by a lack of access to A.C. electricity (local supply was D.C.). Known as “The Premier Station”. Their Chief Engineer, Frank Miller from 5BF, designed, built, and installed their 50 watt transmitter and studio equipment. The original antenna was supported by two wooden 100 feet high towers installed by a carpenter. On air for four hours per day. Relayed some 5KA programs.

1956: Australia’s first fulltime television station was launched in Sydney with TCN-9, resulting in an increase in music programming on radio and a decrease in serials.

2CCC Gosford 1993: Bruce Carty broke the world record, as recognised by the “Guinness Book of Records” in their 1995 edition, for the “Longest Continuous Broadcast by One Announcer”.

17 September

3EX Melbourne 1929. Owned by A.W.A. and established as a temporary station for the “Made in Australia” exhibition. Visitors were given a full demonstration and explanation on how a radio station operates. Managed by H. Sibary who was later manager of 6PR.

1972: The Federal Government abolished Radio and Television Receiver Licence fees which funded the A.B.C.

18 September

1946. The ABC announced increased hours for metropolitan and country stations.

19 September

1934: Letter to the Editor “4BK is our best station so please don’t spoil it by making every second record a jazz one”.

20 September

2KM Kempsey 1937. Launched with better reception on Lord Howe Island than in Kempsey. Their original tower was moved to 2HD in 1939. In the 1930s and 1940s, they broadcast dance programs from a local hall, despite only having one microphone. At 7-45 pm the announcer would put on a serial, then take their only microphone to the dance hall. He would return to the studio and put the microphone to air at 8-00 pm with dance music until he could return to the dance hall. At 10-00 pm, with the band playing to air, he would return to the studio and put on another serial. Then he would return to the hall and retrieve the microphone.

21 September

2LO Sydney 1923: Didn’t last for long. This station was launched by Len Schultz, who was later appointed as the first Chief Engineer of 2GB.

22 September

AWA Melbourne 1918: They transmitted the first direct radio signal from Australia to the United Kingdom (previously, signals were relayed via India).

Rete Italia Sydney 1994. A High Powered Open Narrowcast (HPON) service with Italian programming. Most programs are on relay from Melbourne. Rete also has eleven HPON, two narrowcast, and 44 narrowband outlets.

23 September

2BS Bathurst 1950: They broadcast a live variety hour program from Goulburn gaol featuring acts by prisoners.

3XY Melbourne 1991: The station was sold to A.W.A. for $600,000 (previously sold in 1986 for $15.75 million).

24 September

4RPH Brisbane 1990. Radio for the Print Handicapped. They opened on 1296 KHz. A.M. with the old 4BK 5,000 watt transmitter after they moved to F.M.

25 September

1958: All commercial stations broadcast a week-long campaign called “Radio Week” with the slogan “Wherever You Go, There’s Radio” to promote radio advertising.

26 September

6WB Katanning 1936. Launched by W.A. Broadcasters Ltd., next to the 6ML/6IX studios. Installed their own generator to power the transmitter. Their aerial was between two wooden posts 130 feet high. Mainly relayed 6IX programs using 2,000 watts, but closed 1300-1700. A 6ML studio was used to provide ‘local’ programs.

1970: Radio Hauraki in New Zealand makes its’ first broadcast as a land-based licenced private commercial station.

27 September

2ME Sydney 1927: The Kookaburra call was first used for pre Radio Australia shortwave tests.

6KG Kalgoorlie 1948: The station was destroyed by fire.

28 September

7LA Launceston 1951: 2,000 children attended their Peters Pals Fancy Dress Jubilee Radio Ball.

29 September

3TR Trafalgar 1930. (Previously 3FB from 27-5-1929). Opened using 30 watts as Trafalgar Radio. Managed by Archibald Gilchrist from 3DB. Built and operated by volunteers. On air 1030-1300, and 1800-2230. Often used local artists on air, and borrowed records from listeners. Closed on 4-5-1932. Bought by Mr Gilchrist and reopened at Sale on 12-5-1932 using 50 watts.

4BK Brisbane 1930. Originally planned to operate as 4FO. Situated in the Brisbane King House building. Used the original 4QG transmitter which was later used to start 4AK. Formed a 1930s ‘4BK Radio Club’ with community singing, dancing to jazz bands, and picnics for listeners. Bought by the Courier Mail on 15-11-1941, calling themselves “The Newspaper of the Air”.

30 September

5RM Renmark 1935. River Murray Broadcasters. Jack Hume (5DN) designed, built, and installed all the equipment. On air 1900-2200. Their technician lived in the station. Their wooden mast blew down in 1936. Relayed most programs from a separate 5DN studio between 1-9-1937 and 31-3-1953 then took some programs from 5KA.

2BE Bega 1937. Launched by local farmers with a 50 watt transmitter built by Director Morris Bell as “The Voice of the Far South Coast”. Went bankrupt in 1940 after being sued by the local tannery for comments on air about their ‘evil smell’, which resulted in a £2,000 fine. Kept on air by volunteers until sold in June 1941 to 2XL, and then to John Kerr (from 2XL and 2PK) for £500.

4GG Gold Coast 1967. Originally planned to operate as 4GC (Gold Coast Radio). A power failure was fixed 30 seconds before their official opening. A group which missed out on the licence established a pirate radio station to protest the decision, but never went to air. Investments were fully paid within three years as dividends. Photo is Bill Haley and Tony Schmidt in 1971.

4KZ Innisfail 1967. Their callsign is a corruption of the name of the nearby centre of Cairns (Kairnz). One of only three Australian stations to use three towers for their directional antenna. Opened a relay transmitter in Tully in 1985, followed by eight other locations. Their towers were demolished by a cyclone in 2006 (re-erected by the Army).