Sydney’s first radio station, 2UE 954 will celebrate its 90th birthday on Australia Day with a live outside broadcast from Queens Square on Macquarie Street, adjacent to Hyde Park in the CBD.
The special event marks 90 years since Australia Day 1925 when the on-switch was flicked at the country’s first commercial radio station: 2UE (originally known as 2EU).
The nine-hour outside broadcast features special guests including Gary O’Callaghan, who was a host with the station for more than 50 years; a performance by John Williamson; plenty of Aussie themed food; prizes; and, of course, a 90th birthday cake.
Past and present staff and listeners are invited to join the festivities, with 120 live audience seats available.
The party starts at 5am with John Stanley, Garry Linnell, Stuart Bocking and Angela Catterns.
From 8-9am O’Callaghan returns to the 2UE airwaves, joining John and Garry to re-live the memories, stars, and past and present moments that make 2UE great.
At 10am Stuart Bocking and Gary O’Callaghan will cut the special 90th birthday cake, with 90th birthday-branded cupcakes served to the audience at the same time.
Straight after the cake cutting, special musical guest John Williamson will perform some of his greatest hits.
2UE General Manager Chris Parker said: “For nine decades 2UE has inspired listeners and the radio industry – we continue to break the biggest stories, keeping Sydney informed and
entertained, and creating amazing memories. We are delighted to share our 90th birthday celebrations with Sydneysiders this Australia Day.”
2UE Content Director Clinton Maynard paid particular tribute to special guest Gary O’Callaghan: “Gary dominated Sydney breakfast radio for decades; not only is he a legend of the radio industry, he is someone millions of Sydneysiders grew up with. It’s a true honour to have Gary back on the 2UE airwaves on such an important day – both for 2UE and Australian radio.”
Since its historic first broadcast on Australia Day 1925, 2UE has marked many other Australian radio industry firsts, including the first hourly news bulletin (1957); the first top 40
station (1958); and the first talk back station (1967).