On this Day 1925: Australia’s 1st commercial station goes to air.

It was 8pm on Australia Day 90 years ago that 2UE crackled to life at the same time the foundations were being laid for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a block of land sold for 75 pounds and Charles Kingsford Smith landed the Southern Cross in Croydon, England, establishing a new record time of flight from Australia.

Sydney businessman CV Stevenson with his electrical skills physically built the equipment. He’d made his fortune through his firm Electric Utilities, after which which he originally named the station 2EU but was soon convinced it didn’t sound right and renamed it 2UE.

The early days were the sounds of cheerio calls, the family pianola, records played from a wind-up gramophone and grandfather clock in the home lounge room studio in Maroubra fitted with a microphone to chime the hour.

To clebrate it’s great achievement of reaching 90, 2UE will spend Australia Day broadcasting live from the CBD.

If you’d like to see a lot more more 2UE memorabilia including 15 audio segments looking at 2UE’s history, go here.

Below you’ll find a collection of logos from years past as well as an audio collection of jingles and an excellent video put together by the Sydney Morning Herald.

 


 

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