Radio ABC Perth

720 ABC Perth began its life on Wednesday 4 June 1924 when 6WF took to the air as Western Australia's first, and only Australia's fourth, radio station. It drew its early name from Westralian Farmers Ltd., which started the operation to provide information and entertainment to rural areas, and the station was based in the company's building.

On the evening of that Wednesday, a large crowd heard the Premier Philip Collier give an address followed by an array of acts such as the Wendowie Quartette and comic singer Herbert Gibson. Listeners from around the state heard the event and one from Corrigin commented that she could hear "the engines whistling at Perth railway station."

That first broadcast was made from what Wesfarmers described as a large studio "sufficient to accommodate choirs and bands, and is specially made sound-proof by means of sawdust, pleated hessian and drapings."

To prevent any electrical disturbance to the equipment inside, "Every sheet of iron on the roof of the building is connected together and earthed by means of the lightning conductor."

While it may not match up to the technologies of today, the original station did have a transmitter that was the most powerful allowed under Commonwealth regulations of the day. That was necessary to cover a broadcast region like Western Australia. Interestingly, when 6WF changed over from its original long-wave transmission to medium-wave, the station actually broadcast on both frequencies.

The ABC is born

In 1929 6WF was taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Company and on July 1 1932 the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act was passed. Thus began the nationwide operations of the ABC, with a station in each state and capital city, plus four regional stations in Corowa, Newcastle, Rockhampton, and Port Pirie.

After 6WF moved from Westralian Farmers the Australian Broadcasting Company operated 6WF from the ESA Bank building at the corner of Hay and Milligan Street, Perth. The Australian Broadcasting Commission took over the premises in 1932.

In 1937 the Commission moved its studios and staff to Stirling Institute in St Georges Terrace. This building was built as a temporary structure in 1916 as a rest and recreation centre for sick and wounded returned soldiers. After the First World War the building was taken over the by the RSL and was later hired for functions such as weddings and dances. Stirling Institute had a new name, 'Broadcast House' from 1937.

That temporary home lasted 23 years before the 1960 completion of a multi-studio complex at Rose Hill, 191 Adelaide Terrace.

'The National Broadcasting Service Rosehill Studios' were designed specifically for an expanding broadcasting service. It came to be home to a regional radio service as well as Station 6WN (now known as Radio National), and it also provided a home for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

East Perth studios

The building on Adelaide Terrace lasted over 45 years before 720 ABC Perth moved into its new offices and studios in East Perth in March 2005.

The site is situated in a precinct with a long history of Indigenous settlement, namely by the Whadjug tribe, and sits in what was Mooro country. Aboriginal groups camped in sheltered sections of the river foreshore but there were other inhabitants as well, with the Haigh Park area being known as the 'Bull Paddock' because of the Afghan camel teamsters that used it as a resting point.

Over the years that the Perth colony expanded, the local Nyoongar population dwindled in numbers. In fact, Aboriginal access to the Perth area was prohibited up until 1947. Despite that, the area was used for camping, hunting and gathering until the late 1930s. Indeed, the East Perth area is one of the few remaining central metropolitan locations that has been occupied and used by Aboriginal Australians almost continually since colonisation, although there has been little in the way of recording and recognising Aboriginal associations with the East Perth area.

The ABC's new building at 30 Fielder Street is on former industrial land that has been part of the state's largest inner-city renewal project, which centres on a waterway called Claisebrook Cove that was a former drainage system and is surrounded by many preserved and refurbished historical landmarks such as Queens Gardens, East Perth cemetery, the former East Perth Primary School and the old Boans Warehouse.

The ABC logo

A senior ABC engineer Ken Middleton suggested using images of waveforms, with appropriate background music, as the ABC Logo and asked the TV Senior Graphics designer Bill Kennard to work with engineering staff that were experimenting with telerecording the Cathode Ray Oscillograph displays. They produced continuously varying waveforms, pausing where frequency ratios produced interesting patterns and these recordings were used as occasional fillers.

In July 1963 the ABC ran a staff competition to create a symbol for the organisation and while it was decided that no entries fitted the requirements, Kennard had since submitted a design that was part of the waveform of an oscilloscope, and so had relevance for both television and radio. The three-loop wavelength had been selected by Bill as being most suitable to link the letters ABC. Bill was presented with 25 pounds for his design.

That original design has been modified over the years, going from a thin line to its current silver 3D look that was first used during the national broadcaster's 70th anniversary in 2002.

Current Programming

720 ABC Perth, broadcasts high quality, relevant and entertaining radio programs to the Perth metro area, reflecting the issues, opinions and concerns of a well-informed Western Australian audience.

Offering engaging talk and contemporary music, 720 strives to be an active and informative voice for the local community through relevant and insightful programming.

720's comprehensive programming recognises and responds to the cultural and occupational diversity of our audience, exploring topics ranging from arts, entertainment and culture through to the days latest issues from the worlds of politics, technology, mining and the economy.

Committed to being distinctive, enjoyable, relevant, accessible and companionable, 720 ABC Perth mixes the latest news and views with a good dose of humour, culture and entertainment.