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All we hear is…

by National Library of Australia Commons

Apparently, TV killed the radio star, but the National Library’s collection proves that a love for the airwaves transformed Australia’s aviation, news and entertainment communications at a pace that left no time for celebrity tantrums. For example, radio was used in Sir Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic Expedition! That’s something to go ga-ga about.

19 photos · 464 views

Portrait of John Dease interviewing Gino Mattera, 1953

Unidentifed man with a Flying Doctor Service transceiver, central Australia, ca. 1946

Kerry Norton, an Australian actress, rehearsing a 2GB radio play

View of AWA (i.e. Amalgamated Wireless Australasia) building, Sydney New South Wales, [2] A.G. Foster

Marconi medium wave aircraft direction finder as used by E.W. Searle, Camden, New South Wales, ca. 1938

AWA radio-electric works at Ashfield, Sydney, approximately 1937, 3

Great Britain Lions national rugby league team listening to a radio broadcast, Sydney, 1936, 1

Radio announcer with a man playing a ukelele at a radio broadcasting studio, Sydney, 1936

Russian orchestra at 2CH, Sydney, 17 September 1936, 2

Vesta plate lock batteries supplying power for 2.C.H Radio station, Sydney, 1936, 1

Radio station 2UW broadcasting the Australia vs South Africa test match, Sydney, 1935

Sydney radio station 2UW broadcasting a cricket match the 2nd Test of Australia versus South Africa at Johannesburg, Sydney, 24 December 1935

Wireless officer A.J. Williams receiving farewell greetings as the Discovery leaves Cardiff, Wales, 1929 / Frank Hurley

Copy from radio log A4CM showing James W. Warner and [Charles] Kingsford Smith on arrival, Brisbane, 9 June 1928 / Stanford X-Ray Co. Pty. Ltd., Brisbane

Portrait of radio operator James Warner testing the wireless in the Southern Cross, Fokker monoplane F.VII/3m, VH-USU, 1928 / Sun Feature Bureau

Advertising billboard for Silvatone wireless sets available on easy terms from Hartleys Sports Stores, Melbourne, ca. 1928

E.A. Thrum and Lieutenant Bowen during the eclipse recording radio signal intensities, Cordillo Downs, South Australia, 1922 / Alexander Lorimer Kennedy

Nellie Melba broadcasting from the Marconi works, Chelmsford, England, 15 June 1920 / Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia)

[W.H. Hannam wireless operator, Cape Denison, Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914] Hurley