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Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
Subjects
Culture and Customs
Media
Radio

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Radio

Subject

AWA Tower

Commercial radio

Fisk memorial

McKenzie, Violet

Transcript: Mr Stanley Everett remembers making crystal radio sets as a child in Liverpool

Arrivederci Roma

Australia's Amateur Hour

Croatian Community Radio Program

Croatian National Radio Program

Dad and Dave

Dr Rumble's Question Box

Lux Radio Theatre

Millionaire Mania

Radio Free Asia

Royal Australian Historical Society Green Plaque 71. First Public Demonstration of Wireless

Tangata Whenua Show

Te Reo Irirangi O Poihakena

This I Believe

Wireless Weekly

2EU Maroubra site

2KY Radio Theatre

ABC Ultimo Centre

AWA Building and Tower

Wireless House

First public demonstration of wireless

World Radio Convention 1938

2CH

2DAY-FM

2EA

2FC

2GB

2GB Happiness Club

2JJJ

2KY

2MBS-FM

2MMM-FM

2SER

2SM

2UE

2UW

2VNR

2WS

702 ABC Sydney

Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited

Artransa

Australian Broadcasting Company

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal

Australian Film Television and Radio School

Australian Radio Network

CRO2000

Colgate-Palmolive Radio Unit

Commercial Radio Australia Ltd

Gadigal Information Service Aboriginal Corporation

George Edwards Players

Grace Gibson Radio Productions Pty Ltd

Institute of Radio Engineers of Australia

Koori Radio

MIX-FM

Macquarie Radio Network

McNair Survey Pty Ltd

Radio Redfern

SBS

SBS Radio

Sky Sports Radio 1017 AM

Smoke and Mirrors Pty Ltd

The Wireless Shop

Vega 95.3

Vietnam Sydney Radio

Vietnamese Radio in Australia

Wireless Institute of Australia

Women's Emergency Signalling Corps

Women's Radio College

Adams, Phillip

Afford, Malcolm (Max)

Barry, Keith

Baume, Eric

Bentley, Dick

Bishop, Percy

Brechney, James

Caralis, Bill

Carlton, Mike

Cochrane, AS

Crosby, Don

Davey, Jack

Donald, Bruce

Dunne, John

Dyer, Bob

Dyer, Dolly

Edwards, George

Evans, Lindley

Fennell, William (Willie)

Filmer, Mabel

Fisk, Ernest

Flower, Pat

Gibson, Grace Isabel

Graham, Keith

Grose, Frank

Gustin, Lena (Mamma Lena)

Haddrick, Ron

Harmer, Wendy

Harper, John

Hatzivasilis, Georgos

Healey, Richard

Herd, Margaret

Hinch, Derryn

James, Clive

Jones, Alan

Kruger, Sonia

Lashwood, Harold Francis (Hal)

Laws, John

Lovell, Nigel

Lumsdaine, Jack

Lunn, Lionel

McDermott, Terry

McKenzie, Violet

McLaren, Jim

McNair, William Allan

Meany, James

Meredith, Gwen

Moon, Peter

Moses, Charles

O'Neill, Jackie (Jackie O)

Park, Ruth

Pate, Michael

Pearce, John

Plumb, Gwen

Pope, Norman

Prentice, JM

Ritchie, Kate

Rogers, Bob

Ross, Tim

Sattler, Howard

Shaw, Archibald John

Stelzer, Eunice

Stevenson, Cecil Vincent (Pa)

Teale, Leonard

Thomas, Wilfrid

Tomalaris, Michael

Toohey, Alan

Tran, Caroline

Watts, Merrick

Webb, Mike

White, Brian

Wilkins, Ormsby

AWA Radio Centre Pennant Hills

Fisk Memorial

2UW transmission room

A broadcasting party who descended nearly 3000 feet below Sydney Harbour, Balmain August 1926

AWA tower illuminated for VE Day May 1945

Construction of AWA Tower 1938

Construction of AWA Tower 1938

Construction of AWA Tower 1939

Crowd outside the Radio and Electrical Industries Hall during the Royal Easter Show 1957

Crowning of Pun Up winner, John Dunne, Anzac House, 1944

Cyril Angles in 2UW studio, 1937

Ernest Fisk at the opening of the new radio telephone service to America in the AWA Building 21 December 1938

Funeral of Violet McKenzie, Greenwich May 1982

Lena Gustin (Mamma Lena) on 2CH, 1976

Lovable characters in new radio serial, 'Tradesman's Entrance', July 1941

Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie, OBE, founder of Women's Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) c1941

Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie, the founder of the Women's Emergency Signallers Corps (WESC), c1939

People outside Violet McKenzie's wireless shop in the Royal Arcade c1928

Radio Station 2JJ in Sydney, 1975

Radio console c1930

Radio mast and Sir Ernest Fisk's home Lucania, Wahroonga 1918

Radio personality Jack Davey talks to young men at David Jones 1952

Radio station 2JJ, 1975

Radio studio

Ruth Park writing at home, one of her children under the table, September 1951

Sumner Locke Elliott 1938

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

Three members of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps, l-r Violet McKenzie, Pat McInnes, Esme Kura Murrell c1940

View of AWA tower from GPO tower, 17 May 1942

Violet McKenzie and husband Cecil McKenzie c1935

Violet McKenzie c1933

Violet McKenzie with overseas naval personnel c1953

Violet McKenzie with wireless c1922

Violet McKenzie, possibly at unveiling of plaque at Mission to Seamen Marinersâ€™ Church c1980

Violet Mckenzie c1935

Wireless Wizardry: A Sydney experiment August 1919

'Convict Theatre: A radio movie about a highway robber turned patron of the arts: Robert Sidaway', from These Walls Have Ears: The Artists, 2013

'The Captain of the Push', a poem about Larry Foley recited by Clemency Press, from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous 2013

Death at the Gasworks, from These Walls Have Ears: My Place 2013

Eugenia Falleni, from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous, 2013

Mr Stanley Everett remembers making crystal radio sets in the 1920s as a child in Liverpool, interviewed 1986

Story about Pemulwuy by Gadigal elder Allen Madden from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous, 2013

The First Man Hanged, from These Walls Have Ears: The Artists 2013

The Miller at the Point, from These Walls Have Ears: My Place, 2013

These Walls Have Ears: Infamous

These Walls Have Ears: My Place

These Walls Have Ears: The Artists

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Radio

AWA Tower

Topping the Art Deco AWA building, the tower was modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and once dominated Sydney's skyline.

Commercial radio

The first commercial radio station in Sydney went to air in 1923, and by the mid-1920s there were a range of stations broadcasting politics, religion and sport, as well as friendly entertainment. By World War II the sector was promoting its charitable and social endeavours. The challenge from television in the 1950s was met with improved news, live coverage and talkback.

Fisk memorial

Unveiled in 1935, the monument stands outside Ernest Fisk's house, Lucania.

McKenzie, Violet

A pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering, Violet McKenzie had a lifetime commitment to technical education and training, especially for women.

Transcript: Mr Stanley Everett remembers making crystal radio sets as a child in Liverpool

Mr Stanley Everett, born in 1909, was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960' project. He remembers his childhood hobby of making crystal radio sets.

Arrivederci Roma

Radio program hosted by Lena Gustin in the post war period, providing a forum for Italian immigrants.

full record »

Australia's Amateur Hour

Radio program recorded live in front of an audience in Sydney in the 1940s.

full record »

Croatian Community Radio Program

Croatian language radio broadcast.

full record »

Croatian National Radio Program

Croatian language radio broadcast.

full record »

Dad and Dave

Radio comedy serial that was one of the most popular of its time, based on Steele Rudd's book On Our Selection.

full record »

Dr Rumble's Question Box

Radio program which answered questions about the Catholic Church, on Sunday evenings on 2UE from 1928, later transferring to 2SM until 1968.

full record »

Lux Radio Theatre

Radio program which became a Sunday night institution as radio plays were performed in front of a live audience with actors expected to perform in glamorous evening dress.

full record »

Millionaire Mania

Radio entertainment program featuring promotional games, competitions and contests.

full record »

Radio Free Asia

Private corporation which broadcasts news and information in nine Asian languages to countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press.

full record »

Royal Australian Historical Society Green Plaque 71. First Public Demonstration of Wireless

Commemorative plaque that was installed between 1984 and 1988 as part of the Sydney Green Plaques Bicentennial project on the site of the Royal Society of NSW's lecture room at 5 Elizabeth Street North. The plaque commemorates the first public demonstration of wireless communications on 13 August 1919 when Edward Fisk arranged for a gramophone recording of the national anthem (God Save the Queen) to be played in the Amalgamated Wireless office at 97 Clarence Street and relayed to the Royal Society's building where he was conducting a lecture.

full record »

Tangata Whenua Show

Radio program hosted by Percy Bishop on Koori Radio.

full record »

Te Reo Irirangi O Poihakena

Radio program hosted by Nellie and Koro Riki on Koori Radio.

full record »

This I Believe

Live radio opinion programme presented by Eric Baume.

full record »

Wireless Weekly

Radio magazine founded by enthusiasts which later became a magazine for listeners to commercial broadcasts.

full record »

2EU Maroubra site

House in Maroubra which was owned by C V Stevenson. Stevenson broadcasted the country's first commercial radio station, 2EU, from his living room. Broadcast from 8pm to 10pm nightly, the original program consisted of sing-alongs from the family's pianola, a gramophone with a microphone placed near the speaker horn, advertising from the local butcher, and cheerio calls at two shillings each. Once the pianola roll had been played, Stevenson would leave the microphone live and whistled to fill the silence while he removed and replaced the roll. The grandfather clock in the room was also fitted with a microphone to chime the hour. The station then moved to Savoy House in Bligh Street.

full record »

2KY Radio Theatre

Theatrette sponsored by radio station 2KY in the Dymock's Building in George Street.

full record »

ABC Ultimo Centre

Office and studio complex comprising two digital television production studios, an on-air radio studio, a news studio and control room. It continues a local tradition of entertainment which in the 1870s saw the local paddocks regularly used for shows. At night, flares made of greased cotton waste on sticks lit up the tightrope walkers and strongmen hefting blocks of local sandstone.

full record »

AWA Building and Tower

full record »

Communications tower that was Sydney's tallest building from the time it was built in 1939 until the 1960s. AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia) was a household name from the 1930s to the 1950s as both a broadcaster and a manufacturer of radios, record players and other electrical equipment. The tower was modelled on Berlin's Funkturm Tower, built a few years earlier, and both took inspiration from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The building is decorated with appropriate symbols of communication, including a winged Pegasus, and the light fittings in the entrance in the shape of radio valves.

Wireless House

Building constructed by Glebe Council in Foley Park for community radio broadcasts. It operated from 10am until 10.15pm every day from February 1935 until the early 1950s.

full record »

First public demonstration of wireless

The first public demonstration of wireless communications was conducted on 13 August 1919 when Edward Fisk arranged for a gramophone recording of the national anthem (God Save the Queen) to be played in the Amalgamated Wireless office at 97 Clarence Street, and relayed to the Royal Society's building at 5 Elizabeth Street North where he was conducting a lecture.

full record »

World Radio Convention 1938

Conference to discuss advances in marine and aircraft communications, broadcasting, television and sound projection with engineers assembling from around the world.

full record »

2CH

Radio station owned by the Council of Churches until it was sold to John Singleton in 1989.

full record »

2DAY-FM

Commercial FM radio station

full record »

2EA

Multicultural radio station established in 1975.

full record »

2FC

Second full-time radio station in Australia, established by department store Farmer & Co in 1923. In 1929 the station and studios in Her Majesty's Theatre were taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Company. Known to ABC listeners for many years as 'Radio 2', it was rebranded Radio National in 1985.

full record »

2GB

Radio station originally owned by the Theosophical Society.

full record »

2GB Happiness Club

Radio station club founded by Mrs WJ (Eunice) Steltzer with the motto 'Others First'. Members performed charitable acts for the sick and needy.

full record »

2JJJ

Youth radio station owned by the ABC

full record »

2KY

Radio station owned by the Labor Council of New South Wales that focussed on racing and sports broadcasting. It is now owned by Sky Channel.

full record »

2MBS-FM

One of the first FM radio stations in Sydney.

full record »

2MMM-FM

Commercial FM radio station

full record »

2SER

Community radio station owned by Macquarie University and University of Technology, Sydney. The call sign stands for Sydney Educational Radio.

full record »

2SM

AM radio station originally owned by the Catholic Church.

full record »

2UE

Australia's oldest commercial radio station which first operated from the lounge room of CV Stevenson at Everett Street Maroubra. Originally called 2EU after his Electrical Utilities business in George Street its first advertising contract was with butcher Harry Woods, from George Street, who paid one shilling for each advertisement. It is now owned by Macquarie Radio Network.

full record »

2UW

Radio station that was one of the first in the British Empire to broadcast 24 hours a day. Transferred to the FM band in 1994 as Mix 106.5.

full record »

2VNR

First commercial Vietnamese radio station in Australia.

full record »

2WS

FM commercial radio station originally located in Western Sydney.

full record »

702 ABC Sydney

First full-time radio station in Australia, established as 2SB, broadcasting from the Smith's Weekly building in Phillip Street, and later incorporated into the ABC as 2BL.

full record »

Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited

Large electronics development and communications company that was first to transmit a direct wireless message from England to Australia.

full record »

Artransa

Production arm of 2GB and other radio stations which made radio programs in front of live audiences.

full record »

Australian Broadcasting Company

Privately owned Melbourne based company founded in 1924 to operate commercial radio broadcasting stations. From 1929 until 1932 the company was contracted to supply programs for the new Federal Government National Broadcasting Service.

full record »

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The ABC is Australia's national public broadcaster, across a range of platforms including radio, television and online. The service was officially launched on 1 July 1932 by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons and ABC radio announcer Conrad Charlton.

full record »

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal

Licensing body for Australian broadcasters.

full record »

Australian Film Television and Radio School

National screen arts and broadcasting school.

full record »

Australian Radio Network

ARN is the largest owner of commercial radio stations in Australasia and includes the Sydney stations Mix 106.5, WSFM 101.7 and Edge 96.1

full record »

CRO2000

Croatian community based radio station established in 1992

full record »

Colgate-Palmolive Radio Unit

Radio production unit formed by George Patterson in the 1930s to overcome wartime newsprint shortages. Programmes were produced to both entertain and advertise company products.

full record »

Commercial Radio Australia Ltd

National industry body representing Australia's commercial radio broadcasters.

full record »

Gadigal Information Service Aboriginal Corporation

Media arts hub now housed in purpose built studios and offices in Cope St on the site of the former National Black Theatre. It broadcasts a full time radio station, Koori Radio and coordinates cultural events for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

full record »

George Edwards Players

Radio theatre company formed by George Edwards, his wife actor Nell Stirling and writer, Maurice Francis to produce radio serials in the 1930s.

full record »

Grace Gibson Radio Productions Pty Ltd

Radio production company established in Sydney by Grace Gibson during World War II which produced and sold radio programmes locally and interstate.

full record »

Institute of Radio Engineers of Australia

Professional body representing radio engineers since merged into Engineers Australia.

full record »

Koori Radio

Indigenous radio service established in 2001.

full record »

MIX-FM

Radio station which evolved from the analogue station 2UW.

full record »

Macquarie Radio Network

Radio company which owns 2GB and 2CH as well as a public relations and marketing communications agency.

full record »

McNair Survey Pty Ltd

Market research company founded by Bill McNair in the 1940s that collates statistical information about television and radio audiences.

full record »

Radio Redfern

Community radio station begun by Maureen Wilson and her son Tiga Bayles to provide a voice for the Aboriginal community. It grew from a 10 minute weekly broadcast to over 40 hours per week and played a pivotal role in coordinating political protest during the Bicentenary and black deaths in custody investigations.

full record »

SBS

Multicultural and multilingual broadcasting service established in 1978 with programs in 36 languages.

full record »

SBS Radio

National multicultural radio station which took responsibility for radio stations 2EA and 3EA in 1978.

full record »

Sky Sports Radio 1017 AM

Originally under the ownership of the Labour Council of New South Wales as radio station 2KY with a music format it progressed to talk programs and ultimately race broadcasting.

full record »

Smoke and Mirrors Pty Ltd

Radio and television production company owned by radio presenters Merrick Watts and Tim Ross.

full record »

The Wireless Shop

Early radio supply shop established by Violet McKenzie in the Royal Arcade, Sydney.

full record »

Vega 95.3

Commercial radio station operated by DMG Radio Australia which was formed in 2005 to appeal to those 40 to 60 years of age. By 2010 however it had been renamed Classic Rock.

full record »

Vietnam Sydney Radio

Vietnamese language radio station.

full record »

Vietnamese Radio in Australia

Vietnamese language radio station

full record »

Wireless Institute of Australia

Amateur radio operators society formed to promote cooperation and experimentation in the new science of 'wireless telegraphy'. The Institute celebrated its centenary in 2010.

full record »

Women's Emergency Signalling Corps

Training school formed to teach women to use telegraphic signalling, which ended up training over 12,000 servicemen and women during World War II.

full record »

Women's Radio College

Training college opened by Violet McKenzie in 1932.

full record »

Adams, Phillip

Broadcaster and newspaper columnist.

full record »

Afford, Malcolm (Max)

The foremost writer of commercial radio serials and stage plays in the 1940s.

full record »

Barry, Keith

Doctor, musician and music critic who became controller of programmes with the ABC.

full record »

Baume, Eric

Journalist, radio commentator and television host.

full record »

Bentley, Dick

Comedian and actor who worked in both England and Australia and became famous for the character Ron Glum from the show Take It From Here.

full record »

Bishop, Percy

Māori radio presenter in Sydney.

full record »

Brechney, James

Radio broadcaster and performer.

full record »

Caralis, Bill

Marrickville liquor store owner who was president of Newtown Jets League club and later owner of Super Network radio stations.

full record »

Carlton, Mike

Media commentator and broadcaster.

full record »

Cochrane, AS

Radio presenter with 2CH.

full record »

Crosby, Don

One of Australia's most distinguished actors and radio producers, with a career spanning stage, film, radio and television.

full record »

Davey, Jack

Radio quizmaster who became one of Sydney's best known personalities, famous for his charity appeals and participation in Redex motor rallies.

full record »

Donald, Bruce

Lawyer whose career has spanned broadcasting and environmental law, as well as writing and radio and television presenting.

full record »

Dunne, John

Radio announcer and studio manager at 2SM in Sydney.

full record »

Dyer, Bob

American-born radio and television performer who became one of Australia's best known personalities.

full record »

Dyer, Dolly

Showgirl who married American entertainer Bob Dyer and was a successful radio personality before becoming one of Australia's first television stars.

full record »

Edwards, George

Actor and radio producer who pioneered the radio serial in Australia. He changed his name from Harold Parks to George Edwards in the early 1930s.

full record »

Evans, Lindley

Pianist, teacher and composer who worked with the ABC Children's Hour for over thirty years.

full record »

Fennell, William (Willie)

Radio, television, stage and film actor, comedian and writer who appeared in many Australian television series.

full record »

Filmer, Mabel

Radio personality 'Aunty May' on radio 2UE.

full record »

Fisk, Ernest

full record »

Radio engineer who promoted the potential of wireless communications and was the founding director of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd.

Flower, Pat

Crime novelist and television playwright.

full record »

Gibson, Grace Isabel

American-born radio producer who promoted American radio programs in Australia as well as contributing to the local industry.

full record »

Graham, Keith

Founding director of radio station 2WS in 1978.

full record »

Grose, Frank

Radio broadcaster.

full record »

Gustin, Lena (Mamma Lena)

full record »

Radio broadcaster and welfare worker who was the voice of the Italian community from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Haddrick, Ron

Actor who first appeared on stage in 1946 and who also worked extensively on radio and television.

full record »

Harmer, Wendy

Author, comedienne and radio host.

full record »

Harper, John

Sporting commentator.

full record »

Hatzivasilis, Georgos

Editor and broadcaster.

full record »

Healey, Richard

Radio sport journalist and politician.

full record »

Herd, Margaret

Radio presenter who was known as the Fairy Godmother.

full record »

Hinch, Derryn

Journalist and television and radio host based in Melbourne.

full record »

James, Clive

Author, television and radio broadcaster, critic and poet who grew up in Kogarah in Sydney's south. He left Australia for England in 1961, and remained living and working in the United Kingdom until his death.

full record »

Jones, Alan

Conservative and controversial radio broadcaster and former rugby coach.

full record »

Kruger, Sonia

Commercial radio host and television presenter.

full record »

Lashwood, Harold Francis (Hal)

Actor and comedic performer.

full record »

Laws, John

Host of extremely successful morning radio programme which was syndicated across Australia.

full record »

Lovell, Nigel

Film, radio and television actor.

full record »

Lumsdaine, Jack

Australian singer, songwriter and radio announcer.

full record »

Lunn, Lionel

Studio manager at 2UE.

full record »

McDermott, Terry

Television, radio and theatre actor and producer known for his role in the television series 'Homicide'.

full record »

McKenzie, Violet

full record »

Florence Violet McKenzie was an electrical engineer who taught thousands of women, and soldiers, to use radio for signalling, founded the Wireless Weekly and pioneered technical education for women.

McLaren, Jim

Priest who conducted a religious programme on 2SM.

full record »

McNair, William Allan

Market researcher who established the McNair Surveys of radio and television audiences for advertisers.

full record »

Meany, James

Catholic priest who established radio station 2SM in 1931 for use by the Catholic archdiocese.

full record »

Meredith, Gwen

Beginning as a playwright in the 1930s several of her plays were produced by the Independent Theatre. By the mid 1940s she was writer of popular ABC radio serials, such as The Lawsons and Blue Hills.

full record »

Moon, Peter

Radio presenter on 2Day FM.

full record »

Moses, Charles

Head of the Australian Broadcasting Commission from 1935 to 1965.

full record »

O'Neill, Jackie (Jackie O)

Commercial radio host and television presenter.

full record »

Park, Ruth

full record »

New Zealand-born writer who lived most of her life in Sydney and is the author of many novels, children's books and non-fiction books including novels based on Sydney's history.

Pate, Michael

Radio, film and television actor who went on to write plays, screenplays and teleplays in Sydney and the United States of America.

full record »

Pearce, John

Early radio broadcaster who pioneered talkback radio.

full record »

Plumb, Gwen

Performer on stage, radio and television over a long career.

full record »

Pope, Norman

Managing director of Farmer's department store and pioneer of Sydney radio.

full record »

Prentice, JM

Distinguished army officer who later became an influential broadcaster in the pioneering days of commercial radio, known as 'Uncle Jack'.

full record »

Ritchie, Kate

Television presenter and commercial radio host.

full record »

Rogers, Bob

Disc jockey and radio broadcaster with a career spanning over 60 years.

full record »

Ross, Tim

Radio presenter and entertainer.

full record »

Sattler, Howard

Perth based radio presenter who was host, from Perth, of a morning radio programme in Sydney.

full record »

Shaw, Archibald John

Catholic priest, inventor and radio pioneer who experimented with wireless telegraphy at Ascot house. In 1910 he began to design and manufacture receivers and transmitters, building a 240-foot tower in his backyard that could transmit messages at over 3,200 kilometres. He had a flair for invention which led him to produce a prototype electric car, Morse code and telephone sets and design a remote-controlled submarine. In 1914, his Shaw Wireless Company was investigated by the Order of the Sacred Heart in 1914 and it was found he misappropriated 10,000 pounds of mission funds. Shaw sold his patents and works to the Commonwealth Government in 1916 for 55,000 pounds, though he then died suddenly and there was controversy when his cash could not be traced which resulted in a royal commission on defence administration.

full record »

Stelzer, Eunice

Music teacher, broadcaster and charity worker whose career on radio influenced Sydney's charitable causes for over 25 years.

full record »

Stevenson, Cecil Vincent (Pa)

Electrical engineer who owned a business, Electrical Utilities, in George Street selling radio sets and electrical wares and conducted wireless transmissions from his home and shop. He founded 2EU (later 2UE) and physically built the equipment needed for its first broadcast in his Maroubra home. In his final broadcast, Stevenson said people thought he was crazy for this venture and though it was hard work to begin with, he managed to convince companies of the publicity value of radio.

full record »

Teale, Leonard

Actor of radio, television and film known for his resonant baritone voice. He became a leading radio actor in Sydney after World War II.

full record »

Thomas, Wilfrid

British born broadcaster who had a significant career in Australia.

full record »

Tomalaris, Michael

Sports presenter.

full record »

Toohey, Alan

Popular and influential disk jockey during the early days of radio broadcasting in Australia.

full record »

Tran, Caroline

Vietnamese born radio presenter and DJ.

full record »

Watts, Merrick

Radio presenter.

full record »

Webb, Mike

Founding director of radio station 2WS.

full record »

White, Brian

Broadcaster who was radio's first cadet journalist.

full record »

Wilkins, Ormsby

Talkback radio host.

full record »

AWA Radio Centre Pennant Hills

Communication centre which used a 20 kilowatt transmitter for overseas broadcasting and the wireless telephone service to Great Britain and Europe.

full record »

Fisk Memorial

Monument commemorating the first direct wireless message from England to Australia in 1918.

full record »

2UW transmission room

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a343016 / PXE 789 (v.32), 31]

A broadcasting party who descended nearly 3000 feet below Sydney Harbour, Balmain August 1926

full record »

A broadcasting party was afforded an interesting experience on Sunday, when, in conjunction with Farmer's broadcasting service, a programme of vocal and instrumental items was transmitted from the depths of the Sydney Harbour Colliery. About 60 people assembled at the pit-mouth at Balmain and were lowered to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of over 2800 feet. Here several selections were broadcast by the 17th Area B Military Band. Members of the Sydney Harmonic Male Voice Choir rendered solo and choral selections from a point near the coal face, three-quarters of a mile from the entrance to the main drive, and nearly 3000 feet below the surface of the harbour. Despite the illumination afforded by the electric safety lamps with which the party had been provided, a certain eeriness was not dispelled until the silence was broken by the lusty male voices. Even then the incongruity of the situation became apparent only when one realised that, far above, busy ferries were plying their accustomed routes.

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Sydney Mail 1 September 1926, p 14)

AWA tower illuminated for VE Day May 1945

full record »

Image courtesy of the

State Library of Victoria

Construction of AWA Tower 1938

full record »

By

Arthur Ernest Foster

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[nla.pic-vn3091684]

Construction of AWA Tower 1938

full record »

By

Arthur Ernest Foster

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[nla.pic-vn3091697]

Construction of AWA Tower 1939

full record »

By

Arthur Ernest Foster

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[nla.pic-vn3091676]

Crowd outside the Radio and Electrical Industries Hall during the Royal Easter Show 1957

full record »

By

Contributed By

National Museum of Australia

[Slide 168, via NMA's Flickr set]

(Raymond Morris Collection, courtesy of the photographer)

Crowning of Pun Up winner, John Dunne, Anzac House, 1944

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[hood_21065 / Home and Away 21065]

Cyril Angles in 2UW studio, 1937

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[hood_15803 / Home and Away 15803]

Ernest Fisk at the opening of the new radio telephone service to America in the AWA Building 21 December 1938

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[Home and Away - 18711]

(Mitchell Library)

Funeral of Violet McKenzie, Greenwich May 1982

full record »

Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Lena Gustin (Mamma Lena) on 2CH, 1976

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A12111, 2/1976/13A/6]

Lovable characters in new radio serial, 'Tradesman's Entrance', July 1941

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Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[The Wireless Weekly, 12 July 1941, p7 via Trove ]

Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie, OBE, founder of Women's Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) c1941

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Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Mrs Florence Violet McKenzie, the founder of the Women's Emergency Signallers Corps (WESC), c1939

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Contributed By

Australian War Memorial

People outside Violet McKenzie's wireless shop in the Royal Arcade c1928

full record »

Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Radio Station 2JJ in Sydney, 1975

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A6135, K29/4/75/2]

Radio console c1930

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By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a343005 / PXE 789 (v.32), 8]

Radio mast and Sir Ernest Fisk's home Lucania, Wahroonga 1918

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By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[hood_07681 / Home and Away 7681]

Radio personality Jack Davey talks to young men at David Jones 1952

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From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d7_42200 / APA 42200]

(Mitchell Library)

Radio station 2JJ, 1975

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A6135, K29/4/75/3]

Radio studio

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a343048 / PXE 789, v.32, 91]

Ruth Park writing at home, one of her children under the table, September 1951

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 388, Box 055, Item 084]

(Mitchell Library)

Sumner Locke Elliott 1938

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Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[The Wireless Weekly, 12 August 1938. p3 via Trove]

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

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By

Courtesy

Horwitz Publications

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 558/Box 49/nos. 58-65]

(Mitchell Library)

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

full record »

By

Courtesy

Horwitz Publications

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 558/Box 49/nos. 58-65]

(Mitchell Library)

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

full record »

By

Courtesy

Horwitz Publications

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 558/Box 49/nos. 58-65]

(Mitchell Library)

The Beach House Beatles performing at a 2UW Surf Music night at Surf City, Kings Cross February 1964

full record »

By

Courtesy

Horwitz Publications

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 558/Box 49/nos. 58-65]

(Mitchell Library)

Three members of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps, l-r Violet McKenzie, Pat McInnes, Esme Kura Murrell c1940

full record »

Contributed By

Australian War Memorial

View of AWA tower from GPO tower, 17 May 1942

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[C4078, N1991C]

Violet McKenzie and husband Cecil McKenzie c1935

full record »

Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Violet McKenzie c1933

full record »

Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Violet McKenzie with overseas naval personnel c1953

full record »

Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Violet McKenzie with wireless c1922

full record »

Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Violet McKenzie, possibly at unveiling of plaque at Mission to Seamen Marinersâ€™ Church c1980

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Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Violet Mckenzie c1935

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Reproduced courtesy of the

Ex-Wrans Association NSW

Wireless Wizardry: A Sydney experiment August 1919

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Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[Casino and Kyogle Courier, 30 August 1919, p4 via Trove]

'Convict Theatre: A radio movie about a highway robber turned patron of the arts: Robert Sidaway', from These Walls Have Ears: The ...

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A radio movie about a highway robber turned patron of the arts: Robert Sidaway was a convict transported to Australia. By day he was a baker, and by night, he dreamed of starting a theatre in new land. Produced by Merran Winchester. The cast included: Brendon Taylor- Robert Sidaway Adrian Barnes- Judge, Governor(s) Robert Edwards- Reverend Johnson, Various Voices Anna Martin- Women Voices Dominic Witkop- Sparrow & Various Voices Thomas Adams- Various Voices Paul Winchester- Various Voices Original music composed and performed by John Bellamy. References: The Convict Theatres of Early Australia 1788-1840 by Robert Jordan, published by Currency House (2002).

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1312 Posted April 20th 2013 (detail)]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013.)

'The Captain of the Push', a poem about Larry Foley recited by Clemency Press, from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous 2013

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In the 19th century, there were parts of The Rocks most ordinary folk wouldn't dare to enter, lest they run into The Rocks Push. The underground bare-knuckle boxing gang were known by some as larrikins, and others as criminals. Their leader was Larry Foley, a notorious fighter inside and outside the ring. He is thought to be the muse of The Captain of the Push, a poem often attributed to Henry Lawson. Actor Clemency Press performed the poem live at FBi All the Best's These Walls Have Ears event at the Rocks Windmill festival in May 2013.

By

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1314 Posted May 4th 2013]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013)

Death at the Gasworks, from These Walls Have Ears: My Place 2013

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This is a tale of three deaths at The Rocks and a silent killer. The backdrop is the city's first gasworks. A neighbour to houses and schools, the gasworks gave its power (and industrial pollution) back to its community, and keeps on giving today, long after its smokestacks stood tall. Produced by Jessica Minshall.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1313 Posted April 27th 2013 (detail)]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013.)

Eugenia Falleni, from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous, 2013

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Eugenia Falleni was born in Italy in 1875, the eldest daughter of 22 children. By the time he reached Sydney in 1898, he was known as Harry Crawford. Accused of murder, his identity outed, he was a public figure shrouded in mystery. Historic Houses Trust curator Nerida Campbell follows the historical clues to discover who Harry really was.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1314 Posted May 4th 2013 (detail)]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013. It forms part of the set 'These Walls Have Ears: Infamous' http://dictionaryofsydney.org/audio/96471)

Mr Stanley Everett remembers making crystal radio sets in the 1920s as a child in Liverpool, interviewed 1986

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Mr Stanley Everett, born in 1909, was interviewed in 1986 for the 'Looking Back at Liverpool: An Oral History of the Liverpool Region 1900 to 1960' project. He remembers his childhood hobby of making crystal radio sets.
Transcript

STANLEY: When the Warwick Farm Hotel was in existence, the licensee's son and myself and another school friend called Bob Clyde, we were interested even then in making radios. I probably built the first radio set that was ever built in Liverpool, with the help of my two friends. And there was a great barn all around the perimeter of the back yard of the pub, and we had our laboratory, or whatever you like to call it, up where the horses used to have the haystack but there were no horses there then of course. And we had it all lit up with electric light from acid cells and things.

We used to go along the railway line of an afternoon and weekends and pick up all the lead-type battery cells that the signal people had thrown out as being useless. Well, we could still get a bit of use out of them, you see. We had this old place lit up with torch globes and batteries that the signal blokes used to throw away on the railway line, and we used to go and pick 'em up. Then we started making crystal sets there. I think Bob Clyde might've made the first one. Anyway, we went into production making these things.

INTERVIEWER: How old were you then?

STANLEY: I suppose I would have been about twelve or thirteen.

Contributed By

Liverpool City Library

(Excerpt from interview with Mr Stanley and Mrs Amy Everett, from the 'Looking back at Liverpool : an oral history of the Liverpool region 1900-1960' conducted in 1986 by Liverpool City Council, editor and project co-ordinator Catherine Johnson ; researchers Angela Imbrosciano, Verica Miiosavijevic, Kathleen Smith)

Story about Pemulwuy by Gadigal elder Allen Madden from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous, 2013

full record »

Gadigal elder Allan Madden tells the story of Pemulwuy to a packed audience inside the windmill at All the Best's live event: These Walls Have Ears at the Rocks Windmill festival in May 2013. From uncertain beginnings, Pemulwuy rose to become a leader and warrior for his people, and a bullet-defying enemy of the British settlers, who were displacing his people as they established the colony.

By

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1314 Posted May 4th 2013 (detail)]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013)

The First Man Hanged, from These Walls Have Ears: The Artists 2013

full record »

Have you ever walked along Harrington Street in The Rocks, Sydney? It used to be called Hangman's Hill. Why? Because that's where the first man in Sydney was hanged. Thomas Barrett was his name. He was a forger, a mutineer and a thief. The fact that he was the first man hanged isn't his only claim to fame - he is now recognised as Australia's first colonial artist. He made a medallion commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet. A month later, he was awaiting execution. This is his story.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1312 Posted April 20th 2013 (detail)]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013.)

The Miller at the Point, from These Walls Have Ears: My Place, 2013

full record »

Come on a walk down Windmill Street “and back in time“ to find out the story behind the name of one of Sydney's oldest suburbs. Turns out, it was a prickly miller who started out at Millers Point.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1313 Posted April 27th 2013 (detail)]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013.)

These Walls Have Ears: Infamous

full record »

All the Best shares stories about the most revered, the most feared and the most famous of characters from Australia's first penal colony in The Rocks, Sydney. Come inside a real-life windmill constructed in The Rocks Square, and join a packed audience hearing live stories, poems and audio movies about Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy, bare-knuckle boxer Larry Foley and convicted murderer Eugenia Falleni known in Sydney as Harry Crawford.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1314 Posted May 4th 2013]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013)

These Walls Have Ears: My Place

full record »

Inspired by the much-loved Australian children's book My Place, All the Best runs back through the history of one place, The Rocks, Sydney, to the colonial characters that lived on and interacted with the land after British settlement. The country, traditionally cared for the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, underwent a radical transformation in the 18th and 19th centuries, and those living on it experienced the best and worst of industrialisation.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1313 Posted April 27th 2013]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013.)

These Walls Have Ears: The Artists

full record »

Australia's first colonial creatives probably didn't think of themselves as artists. Mostly, they were just trying to get by. All the Best listened for secret histories from Australia's first penal colony in The Rocks, Sydney. The result was These Walls Have Ears, a live event and radio project supported by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1312 Posted April 20th 2013]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013.)

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