Happy 80th birthday 6PR

Today, Perth’s only commercial talk station 6PR celebrates 80 Years of entertaining and informing Perth.

In 1931 the station was first situated above Nicholson’s Music Centre in Barrack St, transmitting at 200 watts from a station at Applecross on a wavelength of 341 metres.

At the conclusion of World War II, the station moved to new studios in Hay Street East where it remained for 22 years.

The Victorian Broadcasting Network purchased the Nicholson’s and Nicholson’s Limited companies in 1963. The electrical and musical part of the company was sold to Vox Adeon, and the regionally expanded broadcast business was retained to operate as Nicholson’s Broadcasting Services Pty Ltd.

The Hay Street East studio was eventually demolished to allow for expansion of Mercedes College.  Since 1985, the station has been located at 169 Hay Street East Perth. 

6PR hasn’t always been a News/Talk station. Along the way they have taken some detours; from Rock n Roll, to Easy Listening, and even a period when horse races were broadcast in the middle of programs.  Now it proudly broadcasts as Perth’s only commercial talk station.

To celebrate this milestone, personalities from 6PR’s rich broadcasting history will join the current team throughout the day to talk about their memories of Perth’s 882 6PR.

Special on-air guests include; infamous Breakfast duo from the 80s – John K Watts and Barry Martin, former Good-Guys Keith McGowan and the irrepressible Peter Dean, footy broadcaster Percy Johnson and radio historian and broadcaster John Cranfield.

This trip down memory lane, spanning an incredible 80 years started from 5.00am. There’s also a host of historical information and photos on the 6PR website.