RADIO AUSTRALIA:
THE DARWIN TRANSMITTERS
(Original 2014 post: Updated September 15, 2025)
Many long-time DXers will remember the existence of the wonderful Radio Australia transmitting facility on the Cox Peninsula near Darwin between 1966 and 2010. The 250 kW transmitters were well-received throughout the world, boasting a powerful and far-reaching signal.
Listeners throughout Asia could easily pick up the Australian broadcaster. During the 70s and 80s, RA had a huge listening audience across the region, numbering in the millions, especially in Indonesia. I well remember visiting the RA studios in Melbourne in the mid-1970s and hearing RA staff discuss the thousands of letters they received from Indonesian listeners every week. Heady times, indeed!
Times have changed, and those days have gone. Radio Australia's Darwin facility has been dismantled and the property returned to the original Aboriginal Belyuen people. The final years of operation at the Darwin transmitter site were under the station Christian Voice.
The site's history is quite interesting. Veteran Melbourne DXer and historian Bob Padula has compiled a history of the Darwin transmitting and receiving sites in a Google Docs publication. In it, Bob timelines the developments of the station, highlighting the relationship between the site and Darwin's own recent history.
This research discusses the construction of both the receiving and transmitting stations, the early digital-controlled computer system, transmitter and antenna design, and operations, as well as many other fascinating facts. Included are many photographs sourced from the National Library of Australia, the Australian Post Office, and from a former Manager of the Engineering Construction Team.
This publication is excellent reading and has now been converted to PDF format for easy downloading. Check it out! It is freely available by clicking on the link below:
73 and good DX to you all!
Rob Wagner VK3BVW
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| An old card from my collection for RA - Darwin on 15395 kHz on November 7, 1971 |
© Rob Wagner, Mount Evelyn DX Report, and contributors 2012-2026
Clearing the vegetation within the Radio Australia transmitter site on the Cox Peninsula in 1972. It's possible to work out my location on the site from the aerial photo here... https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RXScq07OPj5Lf_6J2KI8jo9nRWVn5EcH
ReplyDeleteGreat article from Bob Padula.
ReplyDeleteHaven''t heard from him for a very, very long time.
My involvement with RA was "Assistent Frequency manager between 1993 and 1997 at
the studio end thus experiencing the move from Burwood to South bank.
Whilst I were in Antarctica ,1975 and 1978, I had regular contact with Earl Russel who did the frequency "choosing" for PMG ,Telcom or Telstra who ever had the job at the time.
Been a keen S/W fan since 1956 and active "ham" as well .
I have been a fairly regular visitor to your site for quite some time as well Rob but
with all my antennaes down my listening is a bit limited.
Thanks again Rob and cheers
Arie Schellaars
VK3DBF
Arie, many thanks for your most interesting comments! This article was first published by Bob in 2014. He is very unwell these days and no longer able to pursue the hobby that he loved so much. I enjoyed reading about your work with RA and in Antarctica. Thanks for your feedback and generous comments on this site. Much appreciated. Cheers, Rob VK3BVW
DeleteI was in Darwin for short while in, I think, 1959. USAF AACS radio operator team member on a good will mission. Also in Townsville and Brisbane. I was fascinated by pre-cyclone Darwin.
ReplyDelete