Inside Brisbane's first radio station ahead of hotel redevelopment
The building housing Brisbane's first radio station is about to be redeveloped into a luxury hotel. See inside the birthplace of radio in Queensland.
In July 1925 the Queensland Government opened the first A Class radio station, 4QG, in the State Insurance Building on the corner of Elizabeth and George Streets.
The building, which remains as part of the city skyline today, was Brisbane's first high-rise government building.
The sandstone, eight-floor building was built for the Queensland Government Savings Bank in 1922.
But before the building was finished, it was fitted out to become the State Government Insurance Office (SGIO) with mosaics still illustrating the department found throughout the building.
The station, named The Queensland Radio Service, housed studios on the rooftop of the building with programming beginning on a date that continues to be debated by historians.
Records mark July 25, 27 or 29 as the possible days of first broadcast with the first program including a market report followed by an update from the Stock Exchange and then the weather.
In 1932, the then prime minister Joseph Lyons inaugurated the station as the ABC, and a second ABC station 4QR was added in 1938.
In the years that followed, 4QR become 612 ABC Brisbane and 4QG became Radio National, both of which still broadcast today.
Historian David Gibson said the well-loved building was also Brisbane's first skyscraper.
"When radio went to air here in this building, The Courier newspaper of the time described it as the eighth wonder of the world ... public broadcasting," he told 612 ABC Brisbane's Spencer Howson.
"Aerials remained on this roof till 1945, just after the war."
In the modern era, aerials still adorn the rooftop.
"We've gone a full circle as there are now aerials for mobile phones on top of the building and who would have thought that radio would continue to be the force that it is today," he added.
When the station first started, two studios were built to avoid delays between programming and many large personalities passed through the studios.
"There were many wonderful names from this building through the ages, like JW Robinson or Robbie as he became known and he was the first station manager here," Mr Gibson said.
"Vale Woodlands, Harry Humphries, Sunrise Sam, Uncle Bob — all these personalities started here at 4QG."
In 1931 the SGIO moved to other premises with the Land and Income Tax Department occupying the space and from 1963–1984 before the building was occupied by Family Services in 1988.
Last year Toga Far East Hotels (TFE) purchased the building to convert the offices into a luxury hotel, with work to begin later this month.
The exterior of the hotel is set to remain as it stands with rooms being built from level five upwards.
Although two blocks from the river, the view from the building remains unobstructed.
"When the nearby Treasury building was designed the architect said he wanted to be able to stand on a winter's day on the verandah and look at the building," he said.
"The architect said it looked like a venetian palazzo.
The sandstone building is now surrounded by high-rises that run down Elizabeth Street, yet Queens Park situated across from the building remains.
Mr Gibson said hundreds of workers pass by the building daily but rarely do they notice two of the building's well-known icons.
"The building is adorned by two naked ladies and it's hard to spot them," he said.
"The surrounds and the cladding of the building are intricate too."
Source: ABC News, Jessica Hinchliffe, July 27th 2015
Originally published as: Inside Brisbane's first radio station ahead of hotel redevelopment
