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"Connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage across the Pacific"


A Warm Pacific Welcome

Welcome! Here, you'll find features, pictures, personalities, commercial art, radio station guides, audio and more connecting popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage across the Pacific.
image of 1957 Coca Cola ad

© Coca Cola 1957


The most popular series are Long Lost Australian Radio Stars, AFRS Armed Forces Radio Memories, Pacific USA, and Island Radio Pacific Style. Latest news from the Kiwi Radio Campaign is here, as are the PAL AM Radio Guide, PAL SW Radio Guide and the NZ Low Power FM Radio Guide.

Use the series lists and 'Latest Stories' to find what you want. The Google search button easily helps locate anything on the site. Genealogy, old friends, social history, people, places, good books, memories and more. You can access everything on this site for free.

We're a registered non-profit funded entirely by donations and operating fulltime since 2004. Volunteers are always welcome to help with projects, most of which are on-line and can be done from anywhere in the world. Your donations keep this site free and help us protect more radio heritage.

How old is old to us? If it happened whilst you read this, it's already in the past and now part of our heritage. Comments about this site? Email us. Contributions of features, images and audio welcomed.

Again, a warm Pacific welcome. We hope you find what you're looking for, will share the site with your friends, and will come back often.

Diamonds of the Dial,
Australian Heritage AM Radio
Celebrating 75 Years on the Air

“Diamonds of the Dial’, that’s what the Radio Heritage Foundation calls 40 Australian heritage AM radio stations that have broadcast continuously for over 75 years with their original station calls.

image of 2GB Sydney in 1970

The modern 2GB Sydney in 1970
© David Ricquish Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

According to a new feature at their website www.radioheritage.net, most of the stations are in country areas, but Sydney is outstanding with 2BL, 2UE, 2KY, 2GB, 2SM and 2CH all achieving ‘Diamonds of the Dial’ status.

Lots of things have clearly changed in Australia since 1935, but these 40 stations nationwide still serve their listeners with established call-signs that everyone across several generations from Grandma to school-kids can find familiar.  > read more



Borderless Radio is Here!

What do ABC Radio, Radio NZ, RFO Radio, Communications Fiji, KCCN-FM and KUAM have in common?

image Cutting the Pacific Free

Cutting the Pacific Free
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection.

Each features in our new Borderless Radio Rankings as being the top radio websites from their countries when we've ranked them against hundreds of others from across the Pacific.

This is a fresh way of looking at local radio stations and brands in a 'borderless' global digital marketplace.

Local market boundaries, AM/FM/DAB/HD digital licence areas and frequency allocations are becoming increasingly irrelevant to building communities of listeners.  > read more

Supporters now get instant savings for donations

Annual and Lifetime supporters of the Radio Heritage Foundation now get instant savings on merchandise, research services and other new benefits in return for donations to help the non profit expand its operations.

Corporate supporters can also make big savings with branding campaigns on the hundreds of pages of high ranking and high quality content at the global website [www.radioheritage.net].
QSL image of KPOL Los Angeles 1952

KPOL Los Angeles 1540 AM letterhead 1952
©Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation


'Non-profits like ours have to work harder and smarter to fund our operations' says David Ricquish, Board Chairman. 'We've put together a great value package for various supporter levels starting as low as US$10 a year. We want to build long term relationships with the thousands of visitors to our website each week.'

'Our core content will always be available free, whilst some of our new research reports and other premium radio guide content will be of more interest to specialist users. All supporters will get special rates whilst Lifetime supporters will get this premium content included in their relationship with us.'

He adds 'We frequently get one-off donations of small amounts and haven't been able to offer anything in return except our thanks. Now, we can offer more tangible rewards and encourage those supporters to stay in touch with us through the year, and longterm.'

For full details of the new Annual and Lifetime supporter packages click here and start enjoying the benefits.

Book Review
Changing Stations
The Story of Australian Commercial Radio
by Bridget Griffen-Foley

image of Changing Stations jacket

Changing Stations jacket.

Let's get straight to the point with this book. If you have even the faintest interest in Australian radio heritage, from any angle, you must buy this book. It's big [530 pages], it's a bold traverse of the subject and it's worth every penny.

The author says 'material recording the development of Australian commercial radio, held in multiple forms and formats, is scattered across Australia and beyond' and recollects turning up to a radio research roundtable in 2006 with a paper entitled 'Writing a history of commercial radio in Australia: The Kiss of Death?'.  > read more

Book Review
Cold War Radio
The Dangerous History of American Broadcasting in Europe 1950-1989
by Richard H Cummings

image of Radio Free Europe ad
Although intended for listeners in Eastern Europe, programs from Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were regularly heard from their powerful shortwave transmitters across Asia and the Pacific.

Listeners in this region regularly wrote to both stations, most to obtain confirmation cards and promotional materials, but some wanting to hear familiar radio voices from their homelands and in their own language.

Through public fund raising and advertising campaigns in the USA, the general public probably believed comments like those from presidential candidate Dwight D Eisenhower that these stations were engaged in a 'Crusade for Freedom'.
 > read more

Australian AM Radio 1611-1701
Italian, Country, Arabic, Greek and Gold

Almost 70 low power stations are now broadcasting in Australia's expanded AM radio dial almost two decades after the new channels became available.

Originally populated by ethnic broadcasters and niche formats, the situation remains little unchanged in 2009 as attempts to bring the low cost extra frequencies into mainstream media have largely failed to materialize.
image of Rete Italia Office

David Ricquish of the Radio Heritage Foundation outside the studios of Rete Italia in Sydney
© Jo Del Monaco, Radio Heritage Foundation


 > read more

2LM Lismore
The Feature Station

image of Peter Le Brun

Peter Le Brun

2LM is owned and operated by Richmond River Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. The Studios are situated in Molesworth Street, Lismore, and the transmitter in Ballina Road, Goonellabah. The licensed and operating power is 500 watts, wavelength 330 metres (900 kilocycles). The Station commenced operations September 21, 1936. Daily transmission hours, 16; transmitter, A.W.A. type J2221; studio equipment, A.W.A.  > read more

3BA Ballarat
Sunshine Singers

Australian radio station 3BA Ballarat supported the Sunshine Singers. Here they are pictured at Lorne in Victoria on January 24, 1938.  > read more

2AD Armidale
The Voice of New England

A decade has passed since Station 2AD took the air to serve the New England Tableland, which technical experts will tell you, is one of the most difficult areas in the State to serve day and night the whole year round.
image of 2AD Armidale logo

2AD Armidale used this logo on its letterhead in 1947
© Cleve Costello Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation


2AD is located at Armidale, the University centre of the provincial districts of Australia. Armidale is 3,300ft. above sea level. The station situated at North Armidale, is 160ft. above town and the masts are 120ft. high, so that 2AD is "on top of radio" in Australia. It is the highest-located station in the Commonwealth.  > read more

3XY Melbourne,
Efftee Broadcasters Pty Ltd
For Live Artist Productions

image of 3XY Melbourne promotion 1939

3XY Melbourne promotion to advertisers in 1939
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection

3XY operated by Efftee Broadcasters Pty. Ltd., was founded by the late F. W. Thring, well known in Australian theatrical and film circles. It began operations on September 8th, 1935.  > read more

2LF - YOUNG
"The Voice of the South West''

Ideally situated in the heart of one of the Commonwealth's wealthiest districts, Station 2LF, from Young, dominates an area of over 11,000,000 acres containing a population of nearly 106,000.

Young, apart from being the centre of a vast agricultural, pastoral, fruit growing and poultry raising district, possesses one of the largest cherry orchards in the world. This progressive and flourishing district is favoured with an unsurpassable climate.
image view of Macquarie Network logo

Macquarie Network logo


 > read more


4MK Mackay, Queensland
'We Strive to Excel'

image view of Mackay from the 4MK tower

View of Mackay township from the 4MK tower c.1938
© John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Mackay Broadcasting Service Pty. Ltd., is a 100 per cent. Mackay organisation established firmly in a very prosperous district which boasts seven sugar mills, a butter factory and two wharf sheds wherein 38,000 tons of sugar has been stacked at one time.
 > read more


The Queensland Network - Five Great Voices in One
4BC Brisbane 4SB Kingaroy 4GR Toowoomba
4RO Rockhampton 4MB Maryborough

image of 4GR Toowoomba QSL

4GR Toowoomba issued this listener confirmation card in the 1940's
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation.

The normal population of Queensland, according to the most recent official figures is just over 1,000,000.

Most of that population is concentrated in the south-east of the State, and more than 700,000 of that total live within easy listening range of the five stations of the Queensland Network. They are:

  • 4BC Brisbane
  • 4SB Kingaroy
  • 4GR Toowoomba
  • 4RO Rockhampton
  • 4MB Maryborough

 > read more

7DY Derby, North-East Tasmania

image of 7DY Derby QSL

7DY Derby issued this listener QSL card in 1945.
© Keith RobinsonCollection, Radio Heritage Foundation.

Playing an important part in Tasmanian country broadcasting since February, 1938, Station 7DY, situated near Derby, operates on 1450 kc/s. (107 metres) , with a power of 200 watts. Hours of transmission are: Mon. Sat., 4.30 - 10.5 p.m., Sun., 5.30 - 10.5 p.m. The North-Eastern unit of the Tasmanian Coastal Network, 7DY is associated with Stations 7BU, 7AD and 7QT, and is a co-operating station of the Macquarie Broadcasting Network.
 > read more

Japan AM Radio Dial 1941

During 1941, Japanese radio audiences had almost 50 local AM radio stations they could listen to for a large part of each broadcasting day.

Since broadcasting officially began in 1925, the original Tokyo Broadcasting Station [JOAK] had been renamed Nippon Hoso Kyokai and by the end of that decade, had created a sophisticated network of landline connected stations across the main islands.
image of the JOAK broadcasting building

JOAK broadcast from this substantial transmission building near Tokyo.
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection


 > read more

Book Review
Treason on the Airwaves

image of Treason on the Airwaves jacket

Treason on the Airwaves
by Judith Keene

Judith Keene from the University of Sydney recently released an excellent book about three Allied broadcasters on Axis Radio during World War II.

We strongly recommend this book for everyone interested in understanding how AFRS radio developed in the Pacific as a counterpoint to the successful propaganda broadcasts coming from Radio Tokyo.

 > read more


9PA Port Moresby
WWII ABC-AFRS Radio

By Adrian Peterson

image of 9PA Foundations

Australian troops seen preparing the foundations for one of the 90 foot towers for 9PA. This photo was taken on February 15, 1944, just 9 days before going on air. Australian War Memorial
© Australian War Memorial
Photo by Clifford Bottomley.

For a period of around two years during the Pacific War, there was no radio broadcasting station on the air in Port Moresby. However, when the American forces flooded into the South Pacific in support of the war effort, there was a need for a radio broadcasting station in Port Moresby. In actual fact, they did establish their own temporary and unofficial station in Port Moresby under the callsign WHMS, and there was also an unofficial Australian operation known as RAAF Radio on the air over at Milne Bay.  > read more

New Heritage Friend The Happy Station Show

image of Happy Station Show QSL

Edward [Eddie] Startz 1899-1976
© Johannes Zaadstra Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Returning to the Asia Pacific region is the famous 'Happy Station' that began in 1927 with Eddie Startz broadcasting from PCJ in Holland to the Dutch East Indies.

Now, international broadcaster Keith Perron resurrects the heritage 'Happy Station Show' from Taipei as an independent program using the Radio Nederland Archives for listeners worldwide.
 > read more


Book Review
Aunt Gwen of 2YA
by Margaret Willis

image of Aunt Gwen of 2YA jacket

Aunt Gwen of 2YA.
by Margaret Willis

"Putting together this story about my mother has taken a long time, all my life in fact."

With these words, Margaret Willis introduces us to New Zealand's most loved Radio Aunt, 'Aunt Gwen of 2YA'.

In the 1920's when radio was new, it was common for stations to run popular childrens sessions. The personalities of the day were usually given a friendly 'Aunt' or 'Uncle' title, so that listeners could be drawn around the fireplace to listen to a trusted 'family member' tell stories, share poems, jokes and music and tips for growing up 'healthy, wealthy and wise'.  > read more

Book Review
Never A Dull Moment
by Keith Richardson

image of Never A Dull Moment jacket

Never A Dull Moment jacket.
© Keith Richardson.

Keith Richardson is known to Kiwi babyboomers for his top rating radio shows on 1XN Whangarei, 2ZC Napier, 2ZB Wellington and to even more recent listeners on Radio Pacific, Greater Wellington FM, Radio Fifeshire and others.

'Never A Dull Moment - My Life in Broadcasting and other Diversions' is a little gem, as Keith lays, no holds barred, 'A Colourful Career' in front of the reader.

'Top 40' at 2ZC, 'NZ Hit Parade' and 'NZ Top 20' are the record spinning shows for which Keith is often best remembered, and these programs with their crazy sound effects, double entendres and more pushed the limit of acceptability on notoriously fuddy duddy state radio in the 1950's and 60's.  > read more

New Heritage Friends WVUV-FM and KKHJ-FM

93KHJ logo WVUV-V103 logo

KKHJ and WVUV logos.


Welcome to South Seas Broadcasting, Inc stations V103 and 93KHJ in American Samoa, latest Heritage Friends of the Radio Heritage Foundation.  > read more

The KYOI Story

By Calvin Melen

In the Beginning

image of KYOI Car Sticker

KYOI Car Sticker
© Calvin Melen Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

The idea for a pop / rock station on Shortwave first appeared in early 1980. At the time there was an upsurge of popularity in shortwave listening amongst teenage Japanese, brought about partly by the availability of inexpensive, good quality portable receivers. It was hoped that a station specifically targeting their interest in Western Rock music would be able to find a niche.  > read more

SuperRock KYOI Saipan

The Concept

image of KYOI Saipan QSL

Listener confirmation card issued by KYOI Saipan.
© Paul Ormandy Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation.

KYOI, located on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands was a commercial shortwave station, on air 24 hours a day, broadcasting "Contemporary Hits" rock music directed at the Japanese market.

Superock KYOI was first heard testing on December 17 1982. Initial frequencies were 11900, 15190, 15405, and 9670kHz. The station was very well received in New Zealand, despite being off the 'back of the beam' and I for one enjoyed their music and frequently had KYOI playing in the back-ground.  > read more

Samoan Radio Journey

by David Ricquish

image of 2AP Logo

Logo used by 2AP Apia, Samoa.
© Radio Heritage Foundation Collection.

We turned a corner on the Cross Island Road, and there sat a stumpy little radio tower, almost hidden in the misty rain. High in the hills behind Apia, the Afiamalu Pass is the location used by 2AP for many years. As Alan Roycroft, even today still remembered in Samoa as the founder of radio in the islands, once said "the engineers were fed with kava before deciding to put the transmitter at Afiamalu . The signal was lacking in lift outside Apia. No longer used, the mast looms lonely, surrounded by sodden fields of high grass and tropical ferns and approached along a muddy track.

In the distance is another tower, this one used to beam Magik 98 FM across northern Upolu. From the FM Building in Savalalo, a block back from the waterfront in downtown Apia, "The Real Music Station" is "Voted Number 1 in Town" . We took the 4WD Toyota through copra plantations and along the beautiful East Coast Road listening to American country music. At night, programs originate from a second studio up at Afiamalu. The owner can broadcast from home, it's less stressful.  > read more

Starting Radio Sangley
US Naval Station Sangley Point

By Louis McClure Snr

image of USNS Sangley Point

US Naval Station Sangley Point aerial view.

I was sent TDY to the Naval Air Station, at Sangley Point, across the bay from Manila.

I was teaching technicians in communications, radar, and sonar equipment. There were many families living on or near the Sangley Point station, and they had no radio except Philippine stations. So, in conversation with the Special Services Officer, we decided to build a "carrier current" transmitter and broadcast music and news on the station. We used salvage parts from the electroncis lab, and built a carrier-current transmitter.  > read more

KTLG Radio
US Naval Station Sangley

By Matt McGuigan

image of KTLG Sign

KTLG Radio Sangley logo.
© Matt McGuigan Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

Before enlisting in the Army in 1952 I had done some commercial broadcasting at a local radio station here at home, so, naturally, I was drawn to the AFRS station there at Sangley.

After Basic training and Army Clerk school training I was sent to the 29th Engineer Base Topographic Battalion stationed at Camp Cavite across town from Sangley PT NAS.  > read more

WASA Radio, AFRS McMurdo Antarctica
"The Most Wonderful Antarctic Station Anywhere"

By Bob Flint
ASA "Det A" Deep Freeze 72

In 1971 I had the privilege of being deployed to the Antarctic for one year and three days. The following are excerpts from my diary in regards to my involvement with the WASA radio station at McMurdo.
image of Bob Flint and Chuck Yarnell

WASA Radio, AFRS McMurdo station sign.
[L] ET1 Bob Flint [R] HM1 Chuck Yarnell.
© Bob Flint Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation.


 > read more

2ZA Radio Golden Years
Reinvented on Stage

image of report opening of 2ZA in 1938

This short announcement in the 'NZ Radio Record' magazine heralded the opening of 2ZA in 1938.
© David Lascelles Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation.

2ZA 'The Voice of the Manawatu' began broadcasting from Palmerston North in 1938.

An ambitious social history exhibition was mounted by the regional museum Te Manawa to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the local radio station that had such an impact on community life.

Running for over six months, the exhibition has proved a magnet for memories and a catalyst for events such as The Great New Zealand Radio Show.  > read more

Kiwi Amateurs 12-92 On Air
Hello? Is it me you're looking for?

image of Cecil James and Brendan Farrell

ANYBODY OUT THERE?: Brendan Farrell, 12, is the youngest radio ham in New Zealand. Beside him is Cecil James - the oldest at the age of 92.
© Waikato Times

Interviewed by Geoff Taylor - Waikato Times

Cecil James and Brendan Farrell share something unique: they are the oldest and youngest ham radio operators in New Zealand and they belong to the Hamilton Radio Electronics Group.
 > read more



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Radio Heritage Foundation projects and activities connect popular culture, nostalgia and radio heritage across the Pacific.

We operate as a non-profit organization where all donations and funds received go towards our costs of meeting these objectives. We are incorporated as a charitable trust in New Zealand under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 [Registration # 1473801] and we are a registered charitable entity in New Zealand in terms of the Charities Act 2005 [Registration # CC25951].

We file an annual report including a financial report with the
New Zealand Charities Commission.
We are registered with the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department as having approved donee status for New Zealand tax residents who can claim a one-third rebate for every dollar donated to the Radio Heritage Foundation. Our New Zealand Goods & Services Tax [GST] registration number is 89-199-638.

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