ABC Radio Perth turns 100
Radio 6WF made its first transmission on the evening of June 4 1924, with a speech from Premier Philip Collier.
ABC Radio Perth will celebrate 100 years of radio in Western Australia on Tuesday 4 June, with special broadcasts set to roll out across the week.
Radio 6WF, still the call sign of 720 ABC Radio Perth today, made its first transmission on the evening of 4 June 1924, with a speech from Premier Philip Collier plus a program of light music and live entertainment.
Established by Westralian Farmers’ Co-operative Ltd (Wesfarmers), it was the first high powered radio station in Western Australia, broadcasting agricultural information to farmers and to provide a connection with the wider world.
“When you think of the isolation of so many people in WA – especially 100 years ago – music, news and information from ‘the wireless’ would have been invaluable,” said ABC Radio Perth manager, Danielle Benda.
“Over the years 6WF won a place in our hearts and homes as company and reassurance in times of deep difficulty and uncertainty as well as in joy and celebration.
“ABC Radio is proud to continue to broadcast in that great tradition providing great company, excellent news services, good music and comprehensive sports coverage to audiences in Perth and throughout WA.”
Throughout the birthday week, ABC Radio Perth will feature some of Western Australia’s most familiar and beloved radio voices.
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Centenarian celebrations kick off in Breakfast with Mark Gibson featuring interviews with Perth radio star Earl Reeve and media personality Susannah Carr.
The morning program, hosted by Nadia Mitsopoulos, will do a special live broadcast at the State Library of Western Australia, which is launching a display on the history of 6WF Radio. The program will feature music selected from the first broadcast in 1924 performed live by the Perth Symphony Orchestra, and will further detail the history of radio in Western Australia.
ABC Perth will also be opening its doors to the public on Saturday 8 June, from 9am to 2:30pm for an Open House.
Earlier this year, ABC Radio underwent a shake-up with new content bosses arriving from commercial radio, bringing with them a refresh of the metro stations.
According to the last ABC Radio Ratings Survey 2, ABC Radio Perth's share of 5.7% sees it just above its long-time commercial rival 6PR Perth on 5.5%.
