From 6WF Wesfarmers to the ABC (1924-1932)

Perth science-teacher-turned-history-author and founder of the Light and Sound Discovery Centre, Richard Rennie, tells the story of how Perth's radio station 6WF became the ABC's first broadcasting outlet in Western Australia. Much of this is based on the scrapbook kept by the esteemed radio pioneer and 6WF founding engineer, Wally Coxon.

This talk coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Wireless Hill Centenary Celebrations in 2012.

Richard's presentation featured antique receivers from The Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Club, to illustrate the equipment available during the pioneering era of radio in WA. The talk was given on Wednesday 18th July, 2012 at the monthly meeting of the Australian Museum of Moving Pictures and Television (AMMPT). The same presentation was made at a variety of venues, as part of Richard's role as an educator, particularly using his skills to inspire young people and young teachers alike.

In 1924, Westralian Farmers Cooperative Limited (Wesfarmers) began operating radio station 6WF on an A-Class licence from the top floor of the company's Wellington Street building. 6WF was initially a long-wave station with 5 kilowatts of power on 1250 metres, 240 kHz, until the Australian Broadcasting Company took over five years later and it left long-wave and moved to 690 kHz on the medium-wave band on September 2, 1929. The chief engineer of 6WF was Wally Coxon, who designed and installed the station facilities, including the transmitter, with a broadcasting capacity of 600 miles.

In 1929, the radio station was taken over by the Commonwealth Government with the Australian Broadcasting Company providing content. The station then moved from the Wesfarmers building to the first floor of the English, Scottish and Australian Bank (E.S. & A.) building at the corner of Hay and Milligan Street, Perth. After three years, the company had increased the licences from 3,900 to 12,500 by 1932.

In 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act was passed, following which The Australian Broadcasting Commission took over the premises from the Australian Broadcasting Company, and the 6WF transmitter was relocated to Wanneroo (now called Hamersley).

In 1937, the ABC studios moved to the Supreme Court Gardens at Broadcast House, located behind the Department of Agriculture, now the site of Council House in Perth.

In 1960, the ABC moved from Broadcast House, to much improved facilities, on the former site of Rose Hill House, at 191 Adelaide Terrace in Perth.

By 2005, so much had changed with a much reduced work force, that was spread between different buildings, which were showing signs of age and needed much maintenance. There was a need for a smaller and more cost effective site, designed to suit a multitasking workforce with TV, Radio and News integrated within the one building, using the latest digital technology. The proceeds from the sale of the Adelaide Terrace property helped subsidise the digital installation at the new ABC site in Fielder Street, East Perth.