After more than 30 years of broadcasting fine music to Melbourne, Radio 3MBS is planning to start a new era of broadcasting, moving from its Kew studios to the refurbished Abbotsford Convent by the end of this year.
The station’s 2006 Radiothon will raise money to support the move. The station has been on air from its Kew studios since its first broadcast on July 1, 1975. The Moving with the Music theme for this year’s appeal heralds more than just the approaching physical move – it also signals a coming of age for the station, which is embarking on technological
improvements and expanding its operations to continue in its mission to become more than a radio station by
delivering a comprehensive experience of fine music and arts in the community.
The station has been operating from the small premises in Kew for its entire 30-plus year history. As the station has grown, the premises have not. The CD library originally was designed for 5000 CDs, but the station has more than double that number now. Working conditions for the hundreds of volunteers are cramped and unsafe and the equipment is
antiquated.
The annual Radiothon appeal for subscribers is the station’s major fundraiser for Melbourne’s only locally based fine music station. By relying on financial support from listeners, rather than the government, the station ensures it is extremely
responsive and in touch with the Melbourne music community.
The station’s Abbotsford Convent re-development requires a delicate balance between achieving a high level of acoustic performance and sensitivity to the heritage of the beautiful 1800s building and St Euphrasia precinct.
The finished two-storey premises will include three live-to-air studios, a performance/recording studio designed to
accommodate a piano, chamber ensemble and small audience for live recordings, in-house sound editing booths, CD
production facilities, offices and workspace for general use. The structure is in the midst of a thriving new arts
precinct and surrounded by beautiful gardens, eateries and family entertainment. The result will be a visually
appealing, practical, technologically sophisticated, shared space for volunteers, musicians, staff and lovers of fine
music alike.
The move is set to be complete in late 2006.
The 2006 3MBS Radiothon runs from May 19 to May 28. Every subscriber who calls 9816 9355 receives a free CD and has the
chance to share in over $200,000 of prizes and giveaways including tickets to Melbourne Symphony, Melbourne Theatre
Company, Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Australian Ballet – Holiday packages to Fraser Island, Dinners, Wine, Chocolate,
Artwork more prizes. All subscribers go into the Major draw for a magnificent Bernstein Piano worth
over $8,000, and a Gold Pass to Cinema Nova worth $3,000.