ABC Wide Bay
| Company type | Public broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Bundaberg , Australia |
Area served | Wide Bay–Burnett, Queensland |
| Products | Radio broadcasting |
Number of employees | 10 (full-time) (2021) |
ABC Wide Bay operates as an ABC Local Radio outlet located in Bundaberg, catering to audiences throughout the Wide Bay–Burnett area of Queensland, including communities such as Maryborough, Gympie, Hervey Bay, and Mundubbera.
History
The station commenced transmission in 1948 under the callsign 4QB, initially serving as a relay for the national broadcast. Its original base was in Maryborough, where from 1950 it functioned out of a modest office within the School of Arts building. Early content featured music alongside local news, with a dedicated newsroom established in 1952 led by Don Harvey.
In October 1952, a Rural Officer position was introduced to provide daily agricultural programming. The station expanded its reach beyond Maryborough through transmitter enhancements carried out in 1954 and again in 1962.
In 1990, ABC Wide Bay moved to modern facilities at 58 Woongarra Street in Bundaberg, significantly improving its regional broadcasting capabilities. Although the Maryborough bureau maintained a rural reporter role for some time, it was eventually closed between the late 1990s and early 2000s.
To bolster coverage of the Fraser Coast region, ABC launched a new bureau on Boat Harbour Drive in Hervey Bay in April 2022. Staffed by two journalists, this initiative underscores ABC’s dedication to expanding regional media presence. The bureau’s inauguration featured an outside broadcast from Scarness Jetty with Gardening Australia presenter Costa Georgiadis.
Transmitters
Broadcasting is conducted through principal AM and FM transmitters, supplemented by low-power FM repeaters:
| Station | Location | Frequency | First air date | Power | Transmitter Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4QB | Pialba | 855 kHz AM | 14 January 1948 | 10,000 watts | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
| 4QO | Eidsvold | 855 kHz AM | 1965 | 10,000 watts | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
| 4GM | Gympie | 1566 kHz AM | 17 August 1951 | 200 watts | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
| 4QBB | Mount Goonaneman | 100.1 MHz FM | 1994 | 80,000 watts ERP | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
Local Programs
Four locally produced programs are broadcast each week on ABC Wide Bay:
- Wide Bay Rural Report (6:15–6:30am) – Megan Hughes
- Breakfast (6:35–8:00am) – David Dowsett
- Mornings (10:00–11:00am) – Ross Kay
- Saturday Breakfast (6:00–8:00am) – Ross Kay
At all other times, programming from ABC Brisbane is aired, which features national network content.
Staff
As of 2021, the station employs ten full-time personnel along with multiple casual staff members.