Staff at Brisbane in front of the Pinkenba station buildings, 1931
Newly installed short-wave transmitter, Brisbane 1931
Brisbane Radio was the fourth coastal radio station to be established by the Postmaster General's Office, opening on 2 September 1912.
The station was built at Pinkenba, a small rural village about 13 kilometres from Brisbane. This site was chosen because the air was cooler than in Brisbane itself -important to ensure the efficient operation of the early crystal receiver sets.
Brisbane was a continuous watch station and acted as a central communications
office for several lighthouses in the region. Its facilities were upgraded
to include short-wave transmitters in 1931.
In 1943, a high-powered transmitter was installed so Brisbane Radio could transmit on a high frequency as part of the British and Allied Merchant Shipping Service. From 1943, the station also transmitted the ABC time signals at 0900 and 2200 hours.
