ABC Radio Perth

ABC Radio Perth
Company type	Radio broadcaster
Industry	Broadcasting
Founded	1924
Founder	Westralian Farmers
Headquarters	Perth, Australia
Area served	Western Australia
Owner	Australian Broadcasting Corporation

ABC Radio Perth (call sign: 6WF) is a radio broadcaster located in Perth, Western Australia, managed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It transmits on 720 kHz AM and functions as the principal ABC Local Radio outlet within Western Australia. Founded in 1924 under the Sealed Set system by Westralian Farmers, ownership transferred to the Commonwealth Government in 1928, with programming provided by the Australian Broadcasting Company. In 1932, it was incorporated into the Australian Broadcasting Commission, which was renamed the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1983.

Westralian Farmers period

6WF commenced transmissions on the evening of Wednesday, 4 June 1924, achieving several significant milestones. It was Western Australia's inaugural "high powered" station and the last Australian broadcaster to utilize longwave (1250 metres, 240 kHz), a frequency promoted by AWA Technology Services due to monopolistic interests. Additionally, it was the final station launched under the defunct Sealed Set scheme established by the Wireless Regulations of 1923.

Background

In May 1922, The West Australian featured an article about the USA Department of Agriculture’s farm radio service, which delivered weather and market updates to agricultural areas—an inspiration for Westralian Farmers’ establishment of 6WF.

Unlike other states, Western Australia did not have a robust amateur broadcasting community to stimulate local wireless industry development. Wally Coxon (callsign: 6AG) broadcast sporadically from 1921 and, after becoming chief engineer at 6WF in late 1923, regularly transmitted Sunday concerts aimed at promoting the Mulgaphone and cultivating an audience for 6WF. Coxon recognized the necessity of a high-power station serving Perth and broader Western Australia. Early broadcasters also included Bert Stevens (6BN) and Clyde Cecil (6AB) from Kalgoorlie. The concept for a Westralian Farmers station was initiated by John Thomson, manager of the Wheat Department, and furthered by Basil Murray; Thomson assumed General Manager duties in May 1925.

Westralian Farmers encountered competition for the Perth high-powered station licence. In July 1923, journalist Len Matters represented West Radio Broadcasting Company Ltd., which sought a Perth licence as part of a nationwide network. The following month, electrical retailers and wireless importers in Perth formed the Wireless Development Association of WA to pursue their own broadcasting licence. Nevertheless, by late July 1923, Westralian Farmers had publicly committed to launching a service targeting farmers and rural areas, citing excessive telegraph charges for livestock and harvest data. At their October 1923 annual meeting, Basil Murray announced they had secured Western Australia’s first broadcasting licence along with contracts for equipment installation.

The establishment process faced obstacles. The transmitter supplier AWA pursued broader commercial goals beyond servicing WA alone. Industry resistance to sealed sets and impending wireless regulation reforms complicated efforts to ensure the station's financial sustainability.

Launch

Initially owned by Westralian Farmers Ltd, the station operated from studios located within the Westralian Farmers building in central Perth. The Premier of Western Australia, Philip Collier, officially inaugurated the station with an on-air address.

Broadcasts began using a 500-watt transmitter provided by Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd., manufactured at their Radio-electric Works facility and installed under supervision from AWA’s Sydney office. This transmitter represented the highest power permitted under Commonwealth regulations at that time. Designed specifically to deliver both information and entertainment to rural communities, its coverage extended across much of Western Australia.

The original antenna was mounted atop the Westralian Farmers building at 569 Wellington Street in Perth’s central business district. Due to limited rooftop space and use of longwave frequencies, a four-wire cage inverted "L" antenna was constructed between two steel masts each measuring 90 feet high and spaced 160 feet apart. The antenna system incorporated copper spreader hoops and an eight-wire counterpoise running along the building’s length, connected via insulators to an aerial matching coil housed within the transmitter room.

During the first six months post-launch, announcements indicated plans to commission a more powerful 5,000-watt transmitter intended to broaden coverage and comply with regulatory requirements. The initial 500-watt unit functioned as a driver stage for this larger transmitter. According to Wireless Regulations of 1924, an A class station qualified for its licence fee rebate only when operating at 5,000 watts. The Postmaster-General's Department actively monitored unlicensed listeners but initially delayed enforcement actions until December 1924; subsequent prosecutions encouraged licence compliance and financially supported the Westralian Farmers station.

Shortwave rebroadcasting

In June 1925, the amateur station 6AG, operated by Wally Coxon, relayed 6WF's programming on a shortwave frequency of 100 metres (3 MHz) as an experimental broadcast, which was received as far away as Adelaide. By February 1926, 6AG was retransmitting 6WF content on the 40-metre band, with transmissions reaching locations as distant as Colombo.

Longwave versus mediumwave

The decision to launch 6WF on longwave (1250 metres, 240 kHz) in 1924 was made with strategic intent. Although AWA advocated longwave to restrict inexpensive US radio imports, the station’s chief engineer favored it primarily for its superior coverage characteristics:

Longwave radio receivers are generally more expensive due to the need for larger RF coils.
Since US manufacturers did not utilize longwave for broadcasting, few American receivers could tune to these frequencies; Australian import tariffs further diminished the appeal of foreign receivers.
During daylight hours, groundwave propagation allows longwave signals to travel significantly farther, which was essential for achieving statewide coverage in Western Australia.
At night, skywave propagation extends reach comparably across both bands; however, longwave’s stronger groundwave presence increases the area affected by signal fading.
Efficient transmission at longer wavelengths demands larger antenna structures requiring more space—a challenge initially faced by 6WF’s rooftop installation.
Employing both longwave and mediumwave services within the same urban area helps reduce interference from adjacent channels and eases tuning difficulties.
Although longwave transmissions are more prone to static interference, particularly at night, this can be offset by simultaneous shortwave broadcasts that benefit from lower static levels.

The 1920s

The Postmaster-General’s Department disclosed payments made to Class A stations up to May 1925. From a total of £113,658 collected in broadcasting licence fees, 6WF received only £4,220, whereas Sydney’s 2FC obtained £34,628. Despite having comparable operational costs and commencing broadcasts later in November 1924 at 5 kW power, 6WF generated roughly one-quarter of the revenue earned by 2FC. In 1929, ownership transferred to the Australian Broadcasting Company, prompting a move from the Westralian Farmers building to the ESA Bank premises located at Hay and Milligan Streets in Perth. Upon formation of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1932, 6WF integrated into the national broadcasting network. Basil Kirke served as station manager from July 1929 until May 1936, succeeded by Con Charlton (May 1936 – August 1947) and then Ewart Chapple (September 1947 – December 1953).

Postmaster-General's Department ownership

For a brief period from late 1928 to mid-1929, the Postmaster General's Department uniquely owned and operated 6WF. During the Great Depression, severe government budget reductions severely impacted PMGD operations with most capital projects halted. Facing funding shortages, PMG Gibson issued warnings that licences for Class A stations would be revoked if they failed to enhance services and improve operational coordination. In March 1928, Thomson disclosed that Westralian Farmers intended to withdraw from broadcasting; advanced but incomplete negotiations were underway to sell to the licensee of Melbourne’s 3LO. Edward Mann remarked in parliament that because of forced mergers with certain interests controlling content, 6WF encountered difficulties securing leading artists.

Australian Broadcasting Company period

In 1929, the Australian Government engaged the Australian Broadcasting Company under contract to provide programming for three years to the National Broadcasting System.

In July 1931, PMG Green revealed plans to relocate 6WF beyond Perth’s central business district and implement a new transmission system. By September that year, Professor Ross had reviewed and confirmed the technical appropriateness of the proposed setup. The chosen site aimed to deliver strong reception within the CBD while minimizing interference risks. The antenna installed was an Alexanderson design akin to those used at ABC stations such as 2CO Albury and 5CK Port Pirie. Transmitter power was upgraded to 3 kW—double that of the original Westralian Farmers system—with full modulation capability and audio frequency response spanning from 50 Hz to 7 kHz. Nighttime coverage remained constrained due to self-fading effects.

Although initial completion was targeted for December 1931, commercial factors delayed finalising a location until a twelve-acre plot on Wanneroo Road, north of Perth, was secured by late December. Cabinet approval was sought in January 1932. In February that year, PMGD chief engineer John Murray Crawford provided a progress report. The contract for supplying and erecting two galvanized steel towers for the antenna was awarded to Johns and Waygood Ltd.; construction commenced in April and concluded by early May 1932.

Australian Broadcasting Commission period

In 1937, the station moved its operations to the Stirling Institute building located on St Georges Terrace in Perth. Although this structure was originally intended as a temporary facility constructed 21 years earlier, it remained the headquarters for 6WF for a span of 23 years.

By 1960, a dedicated complex featuring 23 studios was completed at 191 Adelaide Terrace. This new site became the base not only for the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra but also housed three separate radio stations.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation period

The facilities on Adelaide Terrace served for 45 years until March 2005, when new studios and office spaces were inaugurated in East Perth. The original Adelaide Terrace property was sold to developers in 2008, with redevelopment plans focused on residential construction. The transmission tower at this location was dismantled in January 2011.

Technical personnel

Walter "Wally" Coxon (call sign 6AG), an early wireless experimenter licensed prior to World War I, assumed the role of chief engineer at 6WF in late 1923. He created the Mulgaphone receiver to help grow the station’s listenership and oversaw Westralian Farmers’ wireless division until the late 1920s before transitioning to a commercial broadcaster in Northam.
William "Bill" Phipps (call sign 6WP) joined as assistant engineer in 1924 and remained active throughout the 1930s.
George Bremner "Jock" Sutherland (call sign 6GB), who arrived from Scotland in the late 1920s, served as an assistant engineer and was notable for extending broadcast hours by curating his own gramophone music selections.

Personnel

Harold Wells served as the inaugural chief announcer at 6WF and was the station’s only announcer until his retirement due to health issues in 1929. As the primary voice on Perth’s sole radio outlet for five years, he earned considerable recognition. Wells passed away at age 35 in 1938.

Broadcast schedule

Initially, limited weekly broadcasting was considered. During the week leading up to the official launch on 4 June 1924, continuous gramophone music was transmitted as equipment underwent testing, drawing an enthusiastic audience. Upon commencing regular service, 6WF broadcast seven nights weekly from 7pm to 10pm. Starting 1 July 1924, programming expanded to four daily sessions beginning at 10am, followed by broadcasts at 12:30pm, 3pm, and again at 7pm.

Content

The University of Western Australia contributed extension lectures that gained popularity throughout WA, with seventeen such broadcasts over 6WF in 1924 reaching audiences between 300 and 400 miles away. By its first anniversary, the station had aired approximately 900 programs, played around 2,000 records, and delivered nearly 200 lectures without interruption.

News and current affairs

ABC Radio Perth produces news bulletins specifically tailored for Western Australia, airing from 5:00am until 10:00pm on weekdays and between 6:00am and 1:00pm on weekends. Outside these hours, national bulletins are broadcast.

The station also carries national news magazine shows including AM, The World Today, and PM.

Talk

ABC Radio Perth features a range of talk shows scheduled throughout both daytime and evening hours. The weekday Breakfast segment, hosted by Eoin Cameron from 2002 until March 2016, regularly achieved the status of Perth's top-rated morning radio program.

Sports

The station delivers sports content under the ABC Radio Grandstand brand, covering events such as Australian rules football and cricket.

Among three Perth broadcasters airing Australian Football League games—including 6PR and Triple M Perth—ABC Radio Perth also provides coverage for West Australian Football League fixtures.

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