Radio ABC 936 Hobart

On 17 December 1924 radio came to life in Hobart. Earlier that year the Commonwealth Government had decided to establish 'A' class stations in Hobart, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. These were largely financed by fees collected by the Government and 567 people in Hobart were 'licensed to listen' by early 1925.

The first station in Hobart, 7ZL, was originally owned by the Associated Radio Company, then Tasmanian Broadcaster Pty Ltd from 1928, passing to the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1931. That company was nationalised in 1932 by an Act of Parliament that formed the Australian Broadcasting Commission. It was the year that Tasmania's Joseph Lyons became Prime Minister.

Using a one kilowatt transmitter and broadcasting on a frequency of 580AM, the ABC delivered a mix of classical and popular music, serious talks, sport results and community information such as requests for blood donations. As there was no telephone connection from Tasmania to Victoria at the time, recorded material was sent by sea mail to be rebroadcast by 7ZL, leaving the station to do its own thing and much more local programming than interstate equivalents.

As interest in radio grew rapidly across Australia, the Post Master General announced in 1937 that a second ABC station would be established in Hobart and other cities, to provide a wider range of programming. There was talk of the second station being called 7HN or Hobart National, but it was finally launched as 7ZR on a frequency of 1160. It broadcast live and recorded music, talks and sport from 10.00am to 10.30pm on weekday and less on weekends. The year was 1938, and that summer Don Bradman made 144 in an Australians vs Tasmania match in Hobart.

So since 1938 7ZR, now 936 ABC Hobart, has informed this city and told the stories of Tasmanian life!