612 ABC Radio Brisbane marks 100 years on air today July 25, 2025. The on air team is broadcasting live from the Queen St Mall main stage all day with special guests including Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, authors Trent Dalton and Matt Condon, and live performances from Brisbane artists.
On July 25, 1925 the Queensland Government opened the first A Class radio station, 4QG, in the State Insurance Building on the corner of Elizabeth and George Streets. It was Brisbane’s first high-rise government building and still exists today.
Historian David Gibson told ABC Radio Brisbane’s Spencer Howson (see some vintage Spencer Howson above):
“When radio went to air here in this building, The Courier newspaper of the time described it as the eighth wonder of the world … public broadcasting. Aerials remained on this roof till 1945, just after the war.
When the station first started, two studios were built to avoid delays between programming and many large personalities passed through the studios. There were many wonderful names from this building through the ages, like JW Robinson or Robbie as he became known. He was the first station manager here.
Vale Woodlands, Harry Humphries, Sunrise Sam, Uncle Bob — all these personalities started here at 4QG.”
The station, named The Queensland Radio Service, had studios on the rooftop of the building. The beginning date is debated by historians. Records mark July 25, 27 (see below) or 29 as the possible days of first broadcast with the first program including a market report followed by an update from the Stock Exchange and then the weather.
In 1932, the then prime minister Joseph Lyons inaugurated the station as the ABC, and a second ABC station 4QR was added in 1938. Later 4QR become 612 ABC Brisbane and 4QG became Radio National, both of which still broadcast today.
Further history:
• 25 July 1925 radio broadcasting began on 4QG – the Government of Queensland’s broadcaster – the start of local radio sharing the stories of life of Brisbane.
• 4QG became part of the ABC at it’s inception on 1 July 1932
• The ABC launched 4QR in Brisbane on January 7 1938, it carried national programming in a style that would become Radio National. 4QG’s role was to primarily carry local content.
• The two stations swapped schedules on 28 July 1963, with 4QG now carrying the national programming and 4QR becoming the local radio station sharing the stories of Brisbane.
• Local Radio Brisbane has been right across the AM Band, starting on 779.2AM, 760.5AM, 760AM, 800AM, 790AM, 590AM, 580AM and finally on 24 November 1978 it found its permanent home at 612AM
• Local radio started with a 500 watt transmitter, but as radio interference and the population grew it would eventually make it’s way to 50kiloWatt – one of the most powerful transmitters in the country – you can spot the transmitter’s broadcast mast at Bald Hills, bordered by Gympie Road and the Gateway Motorway.