Today marks a monumental milestone in Melbourne‘s radio history as 3UZ/RSN celebrates its 100th anniversary, with staff – past and present – gathering this week to mark the occasion and reminisce.
On this day back in 1925, 3UZ took to the airwaves as the city’s first commercial radio station. Over the past century, 3UZ has been a pioneering voice in the Australian broadcasting landscape, changing with the times, from radio drama and light entertainment to Top 40, country music and today’s sports and racing presentation.
The 3UZ callsign became famous as the home of such iconic programs as Newsbeat, The Bert Newton Show, Sports Call, Turf Talk, and the world’s longest-running talent show – Radio Auditions.
The station has been home to some of Australia’s most beloved radio voices, including Bert Newton, Don Lane, John McMahon, John Vertigan, Kevin Bartlett, Nicky Whitta, Graham Kennedy, Stan Rofe, ‘Ugly’ Dave Gray, Don Lunn, Bert Bryant, Tony Barber and John Blackman.
3UZ shaped the radio landscape of Melbourne and welcomed some of the world’s most famous celebrities to its studios. Legendary performers like Sammy Davis Jr., Debbie Reynolds, Van Johnson, Donny and Marie Osmond, Johnny O’Keefe, Russell Morris and John Farnham all contributed to 3UZ’s rich legacy.
Through the years, the station has shared the life and times of Melbourne, from the era of valve-driven radios to the first transistor radios and today’s digital broadcasting age.
For its first 56 years, 3UZ broadcast from its original studios at 45 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Today, the station’s new home is at Racing Victoria headquarters next to Flemington Racecourse. Presenters now broadcast from state-of-the-art all-digital studios, under the callsign RSN Racing And Sport.
There has been recent speculation that the station could change hand again and come under the ownership of SEN CEO Craig Hutchison (subscription required). But the station still operates under the original century-old 3UZ licence.
“We are incredibly proud to be a part of the 100th anniversary celebration of broadcasting on 927am,” said John Stewart, Chairman of 3UZ-RSN. Through the years, the quality of broadcasting has been extraordinary, bringing the community closer through its years of entertainment.”
RSN invites all Melburnians, and anyone who’s passed through 3UZ’s doors over the years, to celebrate this remarkable achievement and remember the station’s rich legacy, which has shaped a century of Australian radio.
Main photo, L to R: Bryan Martin, John Vertigan, Mark Nilsen (4th Generation from original owner Oliver Nilsen), Patti Newton, Shawn Cosgrove and Daniel Harford.