ABC Rural
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, Media |
| Predecessor | None |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Fate | Merged into ABC's Regional division in 2015 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Regional Australia |
Key people | John Douglass (founder of Rural department), Frank Walsh (first indigenous rural reporter) |
Number of employees | 70 |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Website | www |
ABC Rural functioned as a division within the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, delivering news, business insights, and entertainment content tailored for regional Australia. The unit employed approximately 70 personnel, including reporters spread across the country. In 2015, as part of a structural reorganization, ABC Rural was merged into the ABC's Regional division. It currently operates under the Regional and Local division umbrella, maintaining Rural Reporters stationed in most regional bureaus and featuring Country Hour executive producers and hosts based in each state capital. The ABC Rural website continues to serve as a primary source for updates on agriculture, farming, and mining sectors.
History
The establishment of the Rural department dates back to 1945 when specialized rural news was formally introduced on ABC Radio. Led by John Douglass, it debuted The Country Hour on December 3, 1945. The initial presenter was Dick Snedden, recognized for his coverage of the Sydney Show. The program grew to include announcers in other capital cities who provided state-specific segments alongside national reports. Eventually, The Country Hour evolved into distinct versions tailored to each state.
By 1951, 'extension officers' were appointed in regional areas to report on local matters. Following the arrival of television in 1956, new programs such as To Market To Market, A Big Country, Countrywide, and Landline were introduced. During the 1980s, these extension officers were reclassified as 'rural reporters' under the supervision of 'executive producers', though their core responsibilities remained consistent.
In 1990, Tom Murrell, Executive Producer of Western Australia's Rural Department, appointed Frank Walsh as ABC’s inaugural indigenous rural reporter. Walsh originated from Mount Magnet in the Murchison region of Western Australia.
An online portal was launched in 1999 at http://www.abc.net.au/rural, providing news along with streaming audio and video content.
Radio
- The Country Hour – broadcast on ABC Local Radio
- Bush Telegraph – aired on Radio National and Radio Australia
- Country Breakfast – featured on Radio National
- Rural Reporter – available via Radio National and ABC Local Radio
- Resources Beat – presented on ABC NewsRadio
- Mining and Resources
- Heywire – transmitted across ABC Local Radio, Radio National, Triple J, Radio Australia, and ABC TV