Tribute to 2UW Radio Sydney




Sydney's 2UW Radio commenced broadcasting on 13 February 1925 on 1125 kHz on the AM band. On 1 September 1935, the frequency changed to 1110 kHz and in 1978 changed again to 1107 kHz. 2UW was the home of many live radio plays and had studios for live programs at George Street in Sydney, near the intersection with King Street.

The management of 2UW moved the station to 365 Kent Street Sydney where they maintained studios that were used for live plays. One of its early breakfast presenters Russ Walkington had a character known as Gerald the Grasshopper, who pre-dated Sammy Sparrow who appeared on 2UE with Gary O'Callaghan.

From the early 1960s 2UW moved away from its older audience and actively pursued the youth market through the introduction of a Top 40 format in response to the music coming from the United States and Britain and to provide a vehicle for the up and coming Australian local rock scene.

2UW was one of the most innovative AM radio stations in Australia during the mid 1960's through to the early 1970s thanks to the programming of Ray Bean.

Ray introduced the NEW2UW '1110' men comprising announcers John Melouney (breakfast), John Thompson (morning), Tony McLaren (afternoon), Ward "Pally" Austin (drive time), Rod Christopher (early evening), and Jeff Hall (late nights and Dial A Hit on Saturday nights). They were later joined by 'Baby' John Burgess, Donnie Sutherland, Phil Hunter, Gary Stewart,Graham Sawyer and a range of others who took Top 40 radio to a new level as part of the NEW2UW format being broadcast from the Kent Street studios in Sydney.

The '1110 men' also took their music to the streets with promotions in such places as beaches, parks and shopping centres. One of the most successful promotions was the NEW2UW studio at the Sydney Royal Easter Show at the old RAS showgrounds at Moore Park.

This provided a unique opportunity for the radio stations stars to mingle with their listeners. In the early 1970s the NEW2UW managed to lure announcer John Laws from his drive time slot at 2UE and gave Laws his first morning program in Sydney radio which was an immediate success, but also brought much confusion to the audience as the radio station went through a series of breakfast announcers and format changes which sought to capitalise on the success of the John Laws program, while trying to hang on its huge audience - many of whom were not ready for the introduction of talk-back radio by their beloved NEW2UW.

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