Lismore: 2LM

Radio station 2LM, based in Lismore and broadcasting across the Richmond Rivers district and north coast region of New South Wales, began transmission in September 1936 on the frequency 900 kHz.  The station still broadcasts on that frequency today.

2LM now also broadcasts a translator service in the town of Kyogle on 104.3 MHz and has an FM sister station, 2ZZZ, which began broadcasting in the early ‘90s on 100.9 MHz.

2LM now provides a mix of news and local programming aimed at listeners in the 35 to 55 age group, supplemented by programming from Sydney radio stations 2SM and 2UE.

2LM and 2ZZZ are now part of the Super Radio Network, operated by Broadcast Operations Group.

Website: 2LM

Brisbane: 4BH

4BH was Brisbane’s third commercial radio station when it launched in January 1932.  The original broadcast frequency was 1380 kHz, shifting up the dial to 880 kHz in the mid-1970s.

The station then adjusted slightly to 882 kHz to comply with 9 kHz spacing in 1978.

4BH was part of the then national Macquarie network, though unlike its sister stations in Sydney (2GB), Melbourne (3AW) and Adelaide (5DN) which all had news-talkback formats, 4BH since 1975 had a ‘beautiful music’ format.

Above: 4BH in 1988

After the Macquarie network was disbanded, 4BH did attempt a talkback format briefly in the mid-1990s.

The station then wound up in receivership and was later sold to the owners of regional station 4QFM, based in Ipswich.  4BH later ended up under the ownership of the Australian Radio Network and was then sold to DMG Radio Australia – as ARN, which also owned music station 4KQ, had to offload 4BH when it became a joint partner (with DMG) in the new FM station licensed for Brisbane, and ARN could not own more than two stations in the one market.

DMG then sold 4BH to Southern Cross Broadcasting which also owned local talkback station 4BC.  Southern Cross’ radio assets were later sold off to Fairfax Media.

4BH and 4BC now broadcast from shared facilities in the suburb of Cannon Hill.  4BH now plays an ‘easy listening’ playlist.

Website: 4BH

Toowoomba: 4AK

Toowoomba is located approximately 127 kilometres west of Brisbane and is one of the two major centres in Queensland’s Darling Downs district.

Radio station 4AK, broadcasting on the frequency 1220 kHz, was launched in August 1935. 

4AK, being in one of the few regional markets with competing commercial stations, was able to provide a more focused playlist (as above, in 1987) rather than a generic one-format-for-all which many regional stations had to adopt.

By 1993 (above), 4AK appears to have softened its image.

4AK is now partnered with 4WK, a station formerly based in nearby Warwick, and both are owned by the Broadcast Operations Group.  4AK now broadcasts on 1242 kHz with a translator station broadcasting on 99.5 MHz in Stanthorpe.

Website: 4AK