2GB

2GB commenced intermittent broadcasting in August 1926.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16327331|title = New Station Opened|newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald|date = 24 August 1926|page = 10|access-date = 25 April 2010}} The operator, Theosophical Broadcasting Station Pty Ltd, owned by interests associated with the local branch of Theosophical Society Adyar, was granted a radio broadcasting licence for the Sydney area.{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography | last = Roe | first = J.I. | title = Arundale, George Sydney (1878–1945), Online Edition | year = 2006 |id=A070107b | access-date = 12 January 2009}}

The initials honour Giordano Bruno.{{Cite web |title=Weekends with Bill Woods - Sunday, 21st of July - Weekends with Luke Grant |url=https://omny.fm/shows/2gb-weekends/weekends-with-bill-woods-sunday-21st-of-july |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=omny.fm |language=en}} George A. Saunders, previously with 2BL, became 2GB's first station manager and (as "Uncle George") on-air personality in 1927.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248586119 |title=Sydney Radio Pioneer Dies |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |volume=XVIII |issue=102 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=20 July 1953 |access-date=1 September 2022 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}

2GB became the first Australian station to play transcription records by 1933, holding the world's largest transcribed record library at the time.{{cite web |url=http://radioyesteryear.org.au/timelines.htm |title=Radio Timelines of Australia |author= |date=August 24, 2008 |website=The All New Radio Yesteryear |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215210314/http://radioyesteryear.org.au/timelines.htm |archive-date=2011-02-15 |url-status=dead}}

The controlling interest in the station was purchased by Denison Estates Ltd in 1936. A new board of directors was appointed under chairman Hugh Denison and included Frederick Daniell and A. E. Bennett, who continued as station manager.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17287755 |title=STATION 2GB. Sale of Controlling Interest. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 November 1936 |page=11 |access-date=26 April 2010 |via=nla.gov.au}}

In what radio historian and writer Richard Lane termed "The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama", Denison and his media adviser Daniell inaugurated the Broadcasting Service Association Players, renamed the Macquarie Players in 1938.

2GB produced local weekly serials such as Dolly and Dan and Doctor Mac, and presented a full-length drama on Sunday afternoons. Writers included John E. C. Appleton, Lynn Foster, E. Mason Wood, William L. Power (who dramatised Helen de Guerry Simpson's Boomerang,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52245744 |title=Famous Novel Dramatised for Radio |newspaper=Australian Women's Weekly | date=21 August 1937 |access-date=3 May 2012 |page=37 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} a series on "Famous Escapes",{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52265485 |title=Famous "Escape" Stories to Be Radio Plays |newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly |date=8 January 1938 |access-date=3 May 2012 |page=30 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} and Tales Told to Peter and Pam, a popular children's series{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52255166 |title=Success of William Power |newspaper=The Australian Women's Weekly |date=23 January 1937 |access-date=3 May 2012 |page=24 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}), E. V. Timms and Ken Pawley.

Actors included James Raglan, Lou Vernon, Peter Finch, Betty Suttor and Harry Dearth.Lane, Richard The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama Melbourne University Press 1994 {{ISBN|0-522-84556-8}}

The station launched the Macquarie Radio Network, in February 1938, in competition with the Major Network, started by fellow Sydney station 2UE.

"Calling the Stars" was an expensive show created locally and sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive. The stars of the show included comedians Jack Davey, `Mo’ (Roy Rene) and Willie Fennell. Dorothy (Dilly) Foster and Rita Pauncefort read double entendres as the not too bright, "Ada and Elsie" in a script written by Foster until 1954.{{Citation |last=Lane |first=Richard |title=Dorothy Isabel May Foster (1908–1981) |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/foster-dorothy-isabel-may-12507 |access-date=2024-08-04 |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en}}

In 1940, the station became the largest producer of radio drama programs in the Southern Hemisphere. During World War II, 2GB provided transcription records to the Australian Army's network of radio stations in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

Station announcer Ted Harris, aided by American Ted Schroeder, became the first man to give a direct ball-by-ball description of the Davis Cup from Forest Hills to Australia on 27 August 1955.{{cite web |url=http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1009 |title=1009 |access-date=2010-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430151412/http://www.commercialradio.com.au/index.cfm?page_id=1009 |archive-date=30 April 2010}} Two years later, 2GB became the first Australian station to air news bulletins on the hour, every hour during its broadcast day.

Prior to 1964, the controlling interest (45%) was held by Broadcasting Associates Pty Ltd, with 14% owned by John Fairfax, and the balance owned by various smaller shareholders. Broadcasting Associates was owned by ATV (Australia) Pty Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of ITV company Associated Television.{{cite web|url=http://www.takeovers.gov.au/content/Resources/cslrc/cslrc_discussion_paper_no_7.aspx|title=The Takeovers Panel}} In 1964, Fairfax purchased ATV's Australian assets, including the 45% share in 2GB.

Although the ownership of the station has subsequently passed to strictly commercial interests, the Theosophical Society was still presenting programmes on the station as late as 1975.{{cite web |title=Christmas Universal|publisher=Theosophical Society in Tasmania |date=21 December 1975 |url=http://www.theosophicaltas.websyte.com.au/site.cfm?/theosophicaltas/4/ |access-date=12 January 2009}}

Ray Hadley, previously with 2UE, became a presenter at the station in 2001.

2GB had a standby mast and its original 873 AM transmitter tower at Wentworth Point at Homebush Bay. Its location was visible via the Ryde Bridge, and also via the train line to Rhodes and Concord train stations. Due to a redevelopment occurring on the same land, the tower was brought down on Friday 11 September 2015. A month or two before, a new tower was erected for 2GB and is now situated at the 2KY transmitter site, also in Homebush.

In October 2012, following the Alan Jones "died of shame" controversy, 2GB suspended advertising on the Alan Jones show.{{cite news|title=No ads on Alan Jones Show|publisher=radioinfo.com.au|url=https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/no-ads-alan-jones-show-updated-audio|access-date=7 October 2012|website=www.radioinfo.com.au|date=7 October 2012}} This decision was reversed in October 2012, but many advertisers declined to return to sponsoring the program.{{cite news|title=Advertisers return today to Jones show|publisher=News Corp Australia|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/advertisers-return-today-to-jones-show/story-e6frg996-1226496677169#|access-date=10 December 2013|website=The Australian|date=16 October 2012}}

In June 2014, Michael Smith was fired as fill-in commentator for calling Muhammad a paedophile; Program Director David Kidd referred to Muhammad as a deity.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-29/2gb-dumps-shock-jock-michael-smith-over-mohammed-comments/5557600|title=Radio presenter Michael Smith dumped after comments about the Prophet Mohammed |work=ABC News|date=29 June 2014}}

On 1 April 2015 The Macquarie Radio Network merged with the Fairfax Radio Network of Fairfax Media. The news teams of 2UE and 2GB are being merged with "significant job cuts." Consequently, on 9 April 2015 the 2UE newsroom was closed.{{cite news |last1=Sinclair|first1=Lara |title=2UE News to go off air as newsroom merges with 2GB |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/ue-news-to-go-off-air-as-newsroom-merges-with-2gb/story-e6frg996-1227297386479 |access-date=11 April 2015 |work=The Australian |agency=AAP |publisher=News Limited |date=9 April 2015}}{{cite press release |title=Completion of Fairfax Radio Network Merger With Macquarie Radio Network |url=http://www.fairfaxmedia.com.au/pressroom/au---nz-press-room/au---nz-press-room/completion-of-fairfax-radio-network-merger-with-macquarie-radio-network |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=11 April 2015 |date=31 March 2015 |quote=Fairfax Media Limited ... today announced the completion of the merger of its Fairfax Radio Network ... with Macquarie Radio Network ...}}

The number 2 of the callsign refers to the state of New South Wales, which also has postcodes starting with 2. The two letters GB indicate an AM station, and were chosen to honour the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno,{{cite web | last = Kohn | first = Rachael | title = Theosophy Today | work = The Spirit of Things (Transcript) | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 15 November 2006 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/spiritofthings/theosophy-today/3364732#transcript | access-date = 12 January 2009}} who was much admired by Theosophists. Its original frequency allocation was 950 kHz and moved to 870 kHz in 1935,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11015274 Wavelengths and Frequencies] The Argus (Melbourne) 16 February 1935 Retrieved 16 September 2011 then to 873 on 23 November 1978, when channel separation was reduced from 10 kHz to 9 kHz as a result of an international medium wave frequency realignment. It has also been attributed to Grace Brothers the department store building where the station originally broadcast from.

• Brian Carlton
• Philip Clark
• Jack Davey
• Bob Dyer
• Terry Dear
• John Dease
• Ken Howard (race caller)
• John Tapp (race caller)
• John Pearce
• Gwen Plumb
• Dita Cobb
• Ian McRae
• Grant Goldman (formerly with 2SM)
• Tim Webster (now with 2CH)
• Jim Wilson
• Malcolm T. Elliott
• John Laws
• Mike Carlton
• Bob Rogers
• Peter Hand
• Owen Delaney (Australia Overnight)
• Jason Morrison
• Jim Ball
• Luke Bona
• Alan Jones
• Terry Willesee
• Kerri-Anne Kennerley
• Stan Zemanek
• Graham Richardson
• Clive Robertson
• Glenn Wheeler
• Brian Wilshire
• Ross Greenwood
• Steve Price
• Ron Casey
• Chris O'Keefe
• Ray Hadley
• Mike Jeffreys

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=205&Itemid=134 Brief History] – transcript of talk by Alan Jones on the early history of this station and others
• [http://www.2gb.com Talkback Radio 2GB 873 AM]
• [http://www.2gb.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=43&Itemid=204 Macquarie National News]

{{Macquarie Media}}

{{Sydney Radio}}

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Category:Radio stations in Sydney

Category:Radio stations established in 1926

Category:News and talk radio stations in Australia

Category:Nine Radio

Category:Giordano Bruno

Category:1926 establishments in Australia