View source for ABC Radio Brisbane

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name            = 4QR
| logo            = [[File: ABC Radio Brisbane logo.png|200px]]
| image           = ABC Brisbane Centre and QSO Studios, South Brisbane, 2025, 01.jpg
| city            = [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]]
| country         = Australia
| area            = [[Brisbane]] & [[Ipswich, Queensland|Ipswich]]
| branding        = ABC Radio Brisbane
| frequency       = 612 [[kilohertz|kHz]] [[AM broadcasting|AM]] (also on DAB+)
| translator      =
| repeater        = 
| airdate         = {{start date|df=yes|1938|1|7}}
| format          = [[Talk radio|Talk]]
| language        = [[English language|English]]
| power           = 50,000 [[watt]]s
| coordinates     = {{coord|27|18|42|S|153|1|3|E|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:AU-QLD}}
| affiliations    = [[ABC Local Radio]]
| licensing_authority = [[Australian Communications and Media Authority]]
| owner           = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| licensee        = 
| sister_stations = [[4RN]], [[ABC Classic|4ABCFM]], [[Triple J|4JJJ]], [[ABC NewsRadio|4PB]]
| webcast         = [https://abc.net.au/brisbane/includes/winstream.asx]
| website         = {{url|https://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/}}
}}
{{Infobox building
| name        = ABC Brisbane Centre
| image                = 
| caption              = ABC Brisbane Centre
|status             = Complete
| building_type        = [[Radio station]]<br>[[Recording studio|Media production studio]]
| location             = [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]
| address              = Russell Street, [[South Brisbane]]
| client               = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| owner                = 
| groundbreaking_date = 
|start_date         = February 2010
| completion_date      = January 2012
| opened_date         = 
| inauguration_date    =
| renovation_date      = 
| demolition_date      = 
| destruction_date     = 
|antenna_spire      = 
|roof               = 
|top_floor          = 
| observatory         = 
| height               = 
| other_dimensions     = 
| floor_count          = 4 plus basement
| elevator_count      = 
|unit_type          = 
|car_parking        = 
| floor_area           = {{convert|15435|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on}}
| architect            = 
| architecture_firm    =Richard Kirk Architect
|developer          = 
|main_contractor    = [[CIMIC Group|Leighton Contractors]]
| structural_engineer  = [[Cardno]]
| services_engineer    =[[Aurecon]], [[WSP Group]]
| civil_engineer       = 
| other_designers      = [[Arup Group|Arup]]
| quantity_surveyor    = 
| awards               = 
| ren_architect        =
| ren_firm             =
| ren_str_engineer     = 
| ren_serv_engineer    = 
| ren_civ_engineer     = 
| ren_oth_designers    = 
| ren_qty_surveyor     = 
| ren_awards           = 
| references           = [http://www.richardkirkarchitect.com/projects/abc-headquarters Richard Kirk Architect]}}

'''ABC Radio Brisbane''' ([[callsign]]: '''4QR''') is an [[ABC Local Radio]] [[radio station|station]] in [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]]. It is one of the largest stations in the network, serving as a base for Queensland programming – many programs are broadcast across the ABC Local Radio network in regional and rural areas of Queensland when those stations are not carrying local programming.

==General history==
{{main|History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
Radio broadcasting began in [[Brisbane]] in 1925 when the [[Government of Queensland]] commenced its own broadcasting operations with the callsign 4QG – 4 denoted the state of [[Queensland]]; QG stood for ''Queensland Government''. 4QG became a part of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC's]] radio network at its inception in 1932.

The ABC started a second Brisbane station on 7 January 1938, using the callsign 4QR. The new station carried national programming—the forerunner of [[Radio National]]—while 4QG aired mainly local content. On 28 July 1963, the two stations quietly switched schedules, with 4QR becoming the local outlet for Brisbane while 4QG picked up the national schedule. ABC officials wanted to minimise interruptions of regular programming by parliamentary sessions. 4QG now operates under the callsign ''4RN'', in common with all other Radio National services in Queensland.

Until December 2006, ABC Radio Brisbane's studios were located at 600 [[Coronation Drive]] in the Brisbane inner-city suburb of [[Toowong]]. A number of [[breast cancer]] cases at the ABC's Toowong studios led to the permanent evacuation of the entire site in December 2006 with 350 staff, from ABC [[television]], [[radio]] and [[online]] relocated. For the next five years, the station broadcast from an office building in Lissner Street, Toowong. In January 2012, ABC Radio Brisbane moved to a newly built facility in [[South Bank, Queensland|South Bank]]. The old Coronation Drive site was sold to Sunland Group in 2014 and subsequently demolished.

In September 2006, ABC Radio Brisbane was "host radio broadcaster" for naturalist [[Steve Irwin]]'s memorial service at [[Australia Zoo]], [[Beerwah, Queensland|Beerwah]]. Breakfast announcers [[Spencer Howson]] (from ABC Radio Brisbane) and John Stokes (from the ABC Sunshine Coast station) were chosen to host the broadcast, made available to radio stations around the world.

The ABC Brisbane Centre, which was designed by Richard Kirk and built by [[CIMIC Group|Leighton Contractors]], opened in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://southbankcorporation.com.au/projects/abc-headquarters|title=ABC Headquarters|publisher=Southbank Corporation|access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref>

==Technical history==
Radio 4QR commenced operation on 7 January 1938.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper = [[The Queenslander]] |title = Opening of National Broadcasting Station 4QR|date = 12 January 1938 | page = 33 |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18902150|access-date = 7 May 2010}}</ref>

At commencement the station was owned by the [[Government of Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]] and under the legislation of the day required no licence. The [[Postmaster-General's Department]] maintained the transmission system and the station's studios, while the Australian Broadcasting Commission (subsequently [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] from 1 July 1983) created the programme content to be transmitted. A licence was issued for the first time in 1992 in accordance with the newly legislated Broadcasting Services Act.

Initially it operated on a frequency of 940&nbsp;kHz within the then current 10&nbsp;kHz channel spacing plan. On 1 September 1948 the station changed frequency to 590&nbsp;kHz to accord with a revised Australia / New Zealand 10&nbsp;kHz channel spacing plan which involved many changes to Australian station frequencies, particularly those in Queensland and New South Wales. In 1972/1973 the 4QR frequency was changed slightly to 580&nbsp;kHz. Finally, on 24 November 1978 the frequency was changed to 612&nbsp;kHz to accord with the 9&nbsp;kHz channel spacing plan which had been agreed by Australia at Geneva in 1975 ("The 1975 Geneva Agreement").

Station 4QR has seen several power increases since its commencement, both to increase its coverage area and to ameliorate increasing levels of man-made radio noise and night-time skywave interference levels. Initial operation was at 500 Watts. Power was increased to 1&nbsp;kW in 1942/1943 and again to 2&nbsp;kW in 1944/1945 to support the many military personnel in Brisbane during [[World War II]]. Power was increased to 10&nbsp;kW in 1948/1949 and finally to 50&nbsp;kW in 1962/1963.

At the time of initial establishment Radio 4QR operated from a city location. For many years now Radio 4QR has shared (with Radio 4QG, now 4RN) a tall dual anti-fading guyed and sectionalised vertical radiator of 198 metres AGL with structural capacitative top hat located at [[Bald Hills, Queensland|Bald Hills]] on the northern outskirts of Brisbane. The mast is a very prominent feature visible from major highways in the vicinity. There is a shorter (81 metres AGL) vertical guyed radiator on the site which provides a standby capability during main antenna maintenance.

On 7 March 2025, at 3pm AEST, ABC Radio Brisbane began simulcasting onto 106.1 FM in Brisbane, the frequency normally occupied by [[ABC Classic]], in order to reach more listeners with rolling coverage of [[Cyclone Alfred (2025)|TC Alfred]]. Listeners of the [[classical music]] station in the area were instructed to tune via their TV, on DAB+ or online in order to continue listening to ABC Classic.<ref>{{cite news |title=ABC Radio Brisbane on FM during Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stay-tuned-to-abc-radio-during-tropical-cyclone-alfred/105023080 |access-date=9 March 2025 |work=ABC Brisbane |date=7 March 2025 |language=en-AU}}</ref> On 9 March 2025, the ABC's [[Bald Hills Radiator]] AM transmitter was knocked off-air after heavy storms and flash flooding struck the Queensland capital, resulting in a loss of access to ABC Local Radio, [[Radio National]] and [[ABC NewsRadio]] in Brisbane. This meant that 106.1 FM became the ABC's official emergency broadcaster in the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local ABC radio impacted |url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/council-information-rates/news-publications/newsroom/local-abc-radio-impacted |access-date=9 March 2025 |work=www.brisbane.qld.gov.au |date=9 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The AM services were later restored that same day. On 11 March 2025, at 5pm AEST, ABC Radio Brisbane ended its simulcast onto 106.1 FM as the Cyclone Alfred emergency came to an end and attention turned to recovery. The frequency used for the simulcast was reverted back to ABC Classic that same day.<ref>{{cite news |title=ABC Radio Brisbane with you as we recover after Tropical Cyclone Alfred |url=https://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stay-tuned-to-abc-radio-during-tropical-cyclone-alfred-recovery/105023080 |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=ABC Brisbane |date=7 March 2025 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Local programs==
'''''Breakfast''''' is heard on ABC Radio Brisbane each weekday between 5am and 7:45am, and features news, sports, weather forecasts, financial information, discussions about the day's news and live traffic reports. ''ABC News'' bulletins are broadcast throughout the program on the half-hour from 5am until 8am. The program has won numerous ratings surveys in the Brisbane radio market throughout recent years.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/brisbane-radio-ratings-spencer-howson-wins-mornings-20131104-2wwiv.html Brisbane radio ratings: Spencer Howson wins mornings], Natalie Bochenski, ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'', 4 November 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/first-radio-ratings-for-2015-put-973fm-in-poll-position-and-spencer-howson-tops-numbers-in-breakfast-slot/news-story/c36866a5b59e576ae7dfeb5a059bd8c6 First radio ratings for 2015 put 97.3FM in poll position, and Spencer Howson tops numbers in breakfast slot], Belinda Seeney, ''[[The Courier-Mail]]'', 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/brisbane-radio-ratings-spencer-howson-boosts-audience-share-20160530-gp7qsm.html Brisbane radio ratings: Spencer Howson takes bigger bite of breakfast], Nathanael Cooper, ''[[Brisbane Times]]'', 31 May 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref>

[[Spencer Howson]] presented the program for eleven years, from the beginning of 2006 and to the end of 2016. In November 2016, Howson announced he was stepping down from hosting the breakfast show.<ref>[http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/spencer-howson-bows-out-of-brisbane-breakfast-radio/news-story/4f738da86cce0e6a151d12685a84c599 Spencer Howson bows out of Brisbane breakfast radio], Amy Price and Kristy Symonds, ''The Courier-Mail'', 17 November 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref> In December 2016, it was announced that ''[[The Country Hour|Queensland Country Hour]]'' presenter [[Craig Zonca]] would be the new host of the station's breakfast show commencing in 2017.<ref>[http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/612-abc-brisbane-breakfast-to-be-hosted-by-craig-zonca-20161209-gt7q2n.html 612 ABC Brisbane breakfast to be hosted by Craig Zonca], Amy Mitchell-Whittington, ''Brisbane Times'', 9 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref> In December 2017, ABC announced that Rebecca Levingston would join Craig Zonca to host ''Breakfast'' from January 2018.

In yet another on-air shakeup, Rebecca Levingston claimed the coveted ''Mornings'' slot from January 2019, and Zonca was paired with [[Loretta Ryan]], relegating Emma Griffiths to ''Weekend Mornings''.

'''''Mornings''''' is broadcast from 8:30am until 11:00am with the first 30 minutes devoted to the main news stories of the day. Prime ministers, premiers and other politicians will lobby to be interviewed in this first half-hour. After 9:00am talkback callers are encouraged to contribute to the day's debate. ''Mornings'' has proved almost as controversial as the stories normally covered on the local current affairs show.  Several people have presented the show over the years with their departure often making headlines.

Recent presenters have been [[Steve Austin (radio presenter)|Steve Austin]] (2011–2017), [[Madonna King]] (2006–2011), Steve Austin (2004–2005), Kirsten Macgregor (2003), Susan Mitchell (2002), Andrew Carroll (2000–2001), Cathy Border (2000), John Barton, Carolyn Tucker (1998–1999), Anna Reynolds and Rod Henshaw. In 2002, the ABC was forced to apologise to Andrew Carroll and admit he was unfairly sacked. Carroll was taken off-air after commenting, during an interview with [[Queensland]] Premier [[Peter Beattie]], that he would have to "reconsider the terms of his contract" (or similar).  Carroll's story was featured on the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]'s own media watchdog program ''[[Media Watch (TV program)|Media Watch]]''. In October 2011, King announced that she would be leaving the station to spend more time with her children.

In December 2011, Steve Austin was announced as King's replacement.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/madonna-king-leaves-abc/news-story/e9a741046cf7aab99063664ed8673443 Madonna King leaves ABC], ''[[The Australian]]'', Michael Bodey, 23 September 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref> In December 2017, ABC announced that ''Breakfast'' with Craig Zonca and Rebecca Levingston would extend to 10am and a new show ''Focus Brisbane'' with Emma Griffiths will replace the ''Mornings'' show. In 2019, further changes saw the ''Brisbane Focus'' program discontinued - and the ''Mornings'' resumed with Rebecca Levingston as host.

'''''Afternoons''''' is broadcast on ABC Radio Brisbane between 12.30pm and 3.30pm and is presented by [[Katherine Feeney (radio presenter)|Katherine Feeney]]. Between 12.30pm and 1.30pm the program is only heard on ABC Radio Brisbane and [[ABC Gold Coast]]. From 1.30pm to 3.00pm the program is statewide on the ABC Local Radio Queensland network. Between 3.00pm and 3.30pm the program is only heard on ABC Radio Brisbane.

'''''Drive''''' is heard between 3.30pm and 6:30pm and is presented by [[Ellen Fanning]].

'''''Evenings''''' is heard from 7pm until 10pm Monday to Thursday and is simulcast on the regional ABC Local Radio Queensland network. Due to daylight saving time, the show is only broadcast from 7pm until 9pm during summer months. On Fridays, a national edition of ''Evenings'' hosted by [[Christine Anu]] is heard.<ref>[https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/abc-radio-lineup-changes-2017 ABC Radio line-up changes for 2017], radioinfo, 15 November 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref> Former ''ABC News'' television presenter [[David Curnow]] was appointed host of ''Evenings'' in late 2013.<ref>[http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/abcs-david-curnow-a-renaissance-man-in-switch-from-tv-to-radio/news-story/ad8523a4289bc9a49a2cebdf8d947cdf ABC's David Curnow a renaissance man in switch from TV to radio], Nathanael Cooper, ''The Courier-Mail'', 10 March 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.</ref> However, in December 2017, ABC announced that [[Kelly Higgins-Devine]] would replace David Curnow from January 2018.

'''''Saturday Breakfast''''' is broadcast between 6am and 7:45am each week with [[Spencer Howson]]. The first hour of the program is dedicated to taking talkback calls with Gardening questions.

'''''Sunday Mornings''''' is broadcast between 10am and 12pm on Sundays with Sally Rope. The program is simulcast on the ABC Local Radio Queensland's regional network between 10am and midday.

ABC Radio Brisbane is managed by Local Manager Anthony Frangi and Content Director Matthew Connors.

== The Bradley ==
The Bradley is an annual art competition run by ABC Radio Brisbane since 2022 where the public is invited to create an artwork about the year's chosen subject.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Levingston |first=Rebecca |last2=Sato |first2=Kenji |date=2024-08-03 |title=We asked you to capture Costa's bearded beauty – and here are our favourite artworks |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-03/cat-jardine-wins-bradley-with-costa-georgiadis-painting/104177788 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Nally |first=Alicia |date=2022-10-21 |title=Brisbane's Brad the Traffic Guy inspires art competition |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-21/bradleys-art-competition-inspired-by-brad-the-traffic-guy/101552028 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Subject
!Winner
!{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|2022
|Brad Hunter
|Andrew Weil
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|2023
|[[Jenny Woodward]]
|Carol Owens
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sato |first=Kenji |last2=Levingston |first2=Rebecca |date=2023-09-29 |title=Winner of Jenny Woodward ABC Bradley art competition praises 'beautiful' weather presenter |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-29/abc-brisbane-bradley-portrait-prize-2023-announced/102917992 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|[[Costa Georgiadis]]
|Cat Jardine
|<ref name=":0" />
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.abc.net.au/brisbane ABC Radio Brisbane online]
*[http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/02/18/2165437.htm A history of ABC radio in Brisbane]

{{Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
{{Brisbane AM}}
{{ABC Local Radio}}

[[Category:ABC Local Radio|Brisbane]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Brisbane]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1938]]
[[Category:1938 establishments in Australia]]