100 years of 6WF and ABC Radio Perth

The potential for using radio to connect and inform rural farmers was initially championed by John Thomson, a manager for Westralian Farmers Ltd (now Wesfarmers). In October 1923, the company announced that it had been granted Western Australia’s first broadcasting licence.

Walter “Wally” Coxon was a prominent wireless experimenter in Perth in the early 1920s. He designed the ‘Mulgaphone’, WA’s first wireless receiver set. In 1923, he became radio 6WF’s first chief engineer.

In early 1924, two antennae were erected on the rooftop of the Westralian Farmers building at 569 Wellington Street and sound studios were built on its top floor. Listeners needed to buy a radio license and a receiver set to hear the service which initially locked audiences onto a single channel. This was later phased out as listeners demanded the right to tune in to alternative entertainment frequencies.

On 4 June 1924, 6WF took to the air as Western Australia’s first licensed broadcaster. An invited audience was able to inspect the studios and listen to the first broadcast as Labor Premier Philip Collier declared the station open. 

“An installation of this nature must serve to overcome the isolation which is one of the disabilities of present‑day life in the country. It will annihilate distance and bring the people of the outback in touch with everyday life and enjoyment of the city and of other countries.” 

– Philip Collier, 1924

6WF’s first ever broadcast occurred over two consecutive nights, kicking off on 4 June 1924. Wesfarmers’ clients were invited to attend a grand musical evening with singers, instrumentalists and an opening night address from the WA Premier Phillip Collier. 

The program started at 8pm and consisted of market reports, bedtime stories, news, gramophone records and lots of humorous items and singing. 

Although music was a central feature of early broadcasting, orchestras were cobbled together with professional musicians sometimes playing alongside station staff who played an instrument. Programming included live broadcasts of local bands and touring artists performing in halls and theatres around Perth. As part of its charter, the ABC also began establishing studio orchestras in each state.

Originally 6WF went on air for only three hours in the evening. This was soon extended to three separate broadcasting periods throughout the day. These transmissions logbooks recorded the types of programs aired between 1924-1929, with cricket and race results proving to be an instant hit with listeners. 6WF’s first announcer Harold Wells became a household name as the “voice of the news”. News broadcast were provided by The West Australian in the afternoon and by the Daily News in the evening. 

Programming expectations in the early days of 6WF made it impossible to please everyone. Tastes ranged from highbrow to populist, with opinions divided on whether radio should educate or simply entertain.

6WF’s ownership was transferred to the Postmaster General’s Department from late 1928 when Westralian Farmers sold its interests to the Commonwealth Government for £7,000. Committed to establishing a broadcaster for the whole nation, the government accepted a bid for a suite of programming from an entertainment consortium calling itself the Australian Broadcasting Company. 6WF became part of this national network although it continued to operate as a commercial radio station. In 1942 the ABC converted 6WF to a public radio station.

In 2024, the State Library partnered with ABC Perth to celebrate 100 years of 6WF and ABC Radio Perth and tell their fascinating origins story. The State Library holds many of the original broadcast logs from ABC Perth's founding period, however broadcast log number 1 is not in our collection. If you have a lead on its whereabouts please let us know.