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1936
Radio 2DU began broadcasting on Friday 3rd July 1936, from a
building in Tamworth Street Dubbo (on the current site of the
Tamworth Street Shopping Centre at the corner of Sterling Street). Mr Douglas
Edward Holmes and his brother-in-law Andrew Allan formed a
company known as Central Western Radio Services. The station transmitted on a frequency of
1060 kilocycles
with a wavelength of 283 metres at a
power of 100 watts. (Doug Holmes had operated an amateur local
station, VK2MX, in Tamworth Street since 1934). Read a newspaper report of
2DU's opening night. |

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1937
The original company was
forced to take in more capital. Prominent graziers Messers Edmund
Irving Body of 'Bundemar', and Andrew Kelburn Scott of 'Burroway'
acquired substantial interests in 2DU and formed Western
Broadcasters Pty Ltd on 30th August, 1937. Stock and station agent
Mr Frederick (Paddy) Fitzhardinge and solicitor Robert Dugald
Booth became minor shareholders and the company was incorporated on
October 8th, 1937. Frank Walpole (who was guest
announcer on opening night in 1936) was appointed Manager. and while
the studio and transmitter remained in Tamworth Street, the new
company operated from registeredoffices at 129 Macquarie Street. |

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1938
In July, the
2DU studios moved to Macquarie Street Dubbo above the Union Bank,
with a main studio capable of seating 60-80 people and a library of
4,000 records. The transmitter
remained in Tamworth Street until 1952. |
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1943
Between 1941-43, 2DU experienced difficulties due to censorship,
lack of trained staff and war-rationing. Mr E.I. Body disposed of
most of his shares to Mr Walter Tasker Grant (right), who was an
electrician by trade, with radio experience from 2KY, 2KA, 2BS and
2LT. With Walter T Grant's capital and expertise, the station began
a very progressive era in it's history. As Manager, Mr Grant worked
toward his goal of increasing 2DU's transmission power. |
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1948
The station's frequency was changed to 1250khz by the Broadcast
Control Board, now the Australian Broadcasting Authority, to make
way for the National Broadcaster, the ABC, on the lower end of the
AM band. |
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1952
At a cost of 20,000 pounds, a new 106 metre-high mast was erected at Eulomogo
and transmitter power increased to 2000 watts after a long struggle
with the Australian Broadcasting Control Board. (Management had
unsuccessfully requested a power increase to 10,000 watts in the
1950 Statement of Claim to the Australian Broadcasting Control
Board).
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1953
2DU moved to an historic building further down Macquarie Street, into a
building where the Midcity Centre now stands. The premises had
previously been a guest house, hospital and doctor's residence, and
was renovated to provide studios and offices. The premises were
officially opened on July 24, 1954 by the Postmaster-General Mr H.L.
Anthony MP, with Dubbo Mayor L.H. Ford opening Studio 'B'. |
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1960
2DU's frequency was changed again, to the present 1251 kilohertz. |
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1961
Walter T Grant died on 27th November 1961, and his widow Mrs
Christina Grant was appointed Managing Director. Their daughter, Mrs
Janet Cameron, would become Managing Director in October 1972. |
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1979
In April, 2DU moved to the present building in Carrington Avenue.
The complex cost $300,000 and was built by Triden Contractors in
association with Harbon Constructions. The Official opening was
held on 15th May, 1979. 2DU also purchased Radio 2PK in Parkes. |
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1982
2DU's translator was installed at Cobar on a frequency of 972
kilohertz with a power of 300 Watts, and began transmission at
5.30am on
November 1st. The 45 metre-high mast and associated equipment was
constructed 1.6 kilometres south of Cobar on the Hilston Road at a
cost of $60,000. Program from Dubbo was relayed to the translator on
a 10kHz line via Cobar telephone exchange. Radio 2MG Mudgee was purchased
shortly afterwards. |
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1986
Western Broadcasters Pty Ltd (with 2DU, 2MG, 2PK and associated
properties) was purchased by Broadcast Operations Ltd (Griffith), a
division of the Linter Group. Mrs Janet Cameron thus ended her long
association with 2DU. |
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1987
In November, the Linter Group sold Broadcast Operations' media interests
to Tweed Heads-based B.G. & P.A. Caralis. |
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1990
On the 22nd of May 1990, 2DU began continuous 24-hour transmission.
The station had been on air Monday to Friday between 5.30am
and midnight, 6am Saturday to 1am Sunday and on Sunday 6am to
midnight. 24-hour operation had previously only occurred on special
occasions (new years, etc) and on long weekends. Instrumental test
music was played usually for half-an-hour prior to commencement of
each transmission period. |
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1994
New transmitters were installed in both Dubbo and Cobar. |
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1997
On Friday 7th February, 2DU established it's FM-supplementary
station, ZOO FM, and both broadcast from the studio complex in
Carrington Avenue Dubbo, refurbished at a cost of more than
$3million. |
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Historical images

Listen to audio

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Facts & Figures
Did you know?

During the devastating
Western Area floods of
February 1955, 2DU broadcast 24 hours
a day from the upstairs foyer after the downstairs studios were
completely flooded. Mr Walter T Grant (Manager) rang business owners
and warned them of the rising river. Extra telephones were set up,
and messages taken from listeners in flood-prone areas were
read over the air. Telegrams were broadcast on behalf of the Post
Office. |

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Did you know?
2DU still has (on display) the very first microphone used at the
station (pictured above with station founder Doug Holmes, and below
more recently with Clive Robertson) |

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Did you know?
2DU once had a branch studio in Wellington.
During the 1950's, Ron Larkin presented some of the morning and
afternoon sessions from there, and conducted the Wellington edition
of Teen Time on Thursdays. |


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