TRFM
| Company type | Commercial radio broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder | Frank Berkery |
| Headquarters | Traralgon , Australia |
Area served | Traralgon, East Gippsland (via repeater on Mount Taylor near Bairnsdale) |
| Products | Contemporary Hits Radio (CHR) format, locally produced content, nationally syndicated shows |
| Owner | Ace Radio |
TRFM (Callsign: 3TFM) operates as a commercial radio broadcaster located in Traralgon, Victoria, Australia. Under the ownership of Ace Radio, it delivers a Contemporary Hits Radio (CHR) format that includes a combination of locally produced content and nationally syndicated shows sourced from NOVA Entertainment and Grant Broadcasters. Coverage is extended to East Gippsland through a repeater station situated on Mount Taylor near Bairnsdale.
History
The station's origins trace back to Trafalgar, where it was initially launched as 3TR, an acronym for "3 Trafalgar Radio." Established by Frank Berkery, the station has undergone several studio relocations, moving from Trafalgar to Sale, and eventually to Traralgon. Between 1934 and 1938, ownership was held by Archibald Gilchrist.
The original studios in Sale, currently occupied by ABC Gippsland, were officially inaugurated in April 1939 by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. At that time, the station formed part of the Victorian Broadcast Network alongside 3SH and 3HA.
For much of its operational history, the station broadcast on the AM frequency of 1242 kHz before switching to FM on 26 April 2002 and adopting the name 3TR FM. Prior to this transition, it simulcasted on both AM and FM bands. Simultaneously, sister station 3GV (presently known as Gold 1242) commenced broadcasting on 1242 kHz.
In contrast to other Ace Radio markets where new FM stations launched under the Mixx FM brand while retaining existing AM services, Ace Radio chose to migrate the established 3TR brand onto FM to maintain its audience loyalty. This approach was supported by the similarity in programming between the AM and FM stations.
The station shortened its name to TRFM in September 2008.