Remember Steve Irwin? ABC Radio Brisbane played a key role in his memorial service.
Hello everyone. We’re standing outside ABC Brisbane in South Brisbane. It’s more than just a radio station. It is a hub for Queensland programming.
Let’s delve into the story of ABC Brisbane. Its history is deeply intertwined with the development of radio in Queensland. Radio broadcasting in Brisbane started in 1925 with station 4QG. This was the Queensland Government’s own broadcasting operation. In 1932, 4QG became part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
ABC Brisbane, callsign 4QR, began on January 7, 1938. It was Brisbane’s second ABC station. Initially 4QR broadcast national programs. 4QG aired local content. The stations switched schedules in 1963. 4QR became the local outlet for Brisbane. 4QG took over the national schedule. ABC officials wanted to minimise interruptions to programming. This was due to parliamentary sessions. 4QG now operates as 4RN.
Until 2006, ABC Radio Brisbane was located in Toowong. Staff evacuated the site due to breast cancer cases. For five years, the station broadcast from Lissner Street, Toowong. In January 2012, ABC Radio Brisbane moved here. This is a newly built facility in South Bank. The old Toowong site was sold in 2014.
ABC Radio Brisbane played a special role in September 2006. It was the host radio broadcaster for Steve Irwin’s memorial service. Breakfast announcers Spencer Howson and John Stokes hosted the broadcast. The broadcast was available to radio stations worldwide.
Richard Kirk designed the ABC Brisbane Centre. Leighton Contractors built it. It opened in 2012. The station commenced operation on January 7, 1938. The Commonwealth of Australia owned the station. No license was required back then. The Postmaster-General’s Department managed the transmission system. The Australian Broadcasting Commission created the content. A license was first issued in 1992. This followed the Broadcasting Services Act.
Initially, 4QR operated on 940 kHz. The station changed to 590 kHz in 1948. This aligned with a revised channel spacing plan. In 1972 or 1973, the frequency changed to 580 kHz. Finally, it moved to 612 kHz in 1978. This complied with a 9 kHz channel spacing plan.
4QR’s power increased over time. This was to improve coverage and reduce radio noise. It started at 500 watts. It increased to 1 kW in 1942 or 1943. Then it went up to 2 kW in 1944 or 1945. This supported military personnel in Brisbane during World War II. Power reached 10 kW in 1948 or 1949. It finally hit 50 kW in 1962 or 1963.
The station shared a tall antenna at Bald Hills. It shares it with Radio 4QG now 4RN.
ABC Radio Brisbane offers local programs. Breakfast airs each weekday. It includes news, sports, weather, and traffic reports. ABC News bulletins broadcast on the half-hour. Spencer Howson presented the program for eleven years. Craig Zonca and Rebecca Levingston also hosted the breakfast show. Mornings include news and talkback. Afternoons are hosted by Katherine Feeney. Drive is presented by Ellen Fanning. Evenings is hosted by Kelly Higgins-Devine.
ABC Radio Brisbane also manages the Bradley art competition. The public creates art about a chosen subject.
The ABC Brisbane Centre is a landmark in South East Queensland. Its location is ideal within the South Bank cultural precinct. The building reinforces the Queensland Government’s vision. It activates and engages with the public. The design amplifies transparency. The building creates open public spaces.
The Media Production Studio functions as a rehearsal space for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra QSO. Operable acoustic paneling allows the studio to cater to diverse needs.
The ABC’s 612 Radio Studio is visible on the corner of Russell Street. The studios are transparent from the street and parkland. The building was awarded a 5 Star Green Star rating.
ABC Radio Brisbane has a rich history. It has evolved to meet the changing needs of its listeners. It remains a vital part of Brisbane’s media landscape.