ABC Central West


ABC Central West is the ABC Local Radio station for the Central Tablelands region, based in Orange, New South Wales, owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It broadcasts on 549 kHz on the AM band. The 549 kHz signal is one of the most powerful in Australia, with the coverage map on the ABC's reception website showing that the station can be heard in Northern Victoria and South Western Queensland during normal daytime conditions.

History

ABC Central West is one of the oldest stations of the ABC. The station opened on 29 April 1937 in the Strand Palais in Orange. It was attended by the Mayor of Orange, W.F. Matthews, the Postmaster-General, the Minister of Defence and a representative of the ABC. Entertainment for the night was provided by Jim Davidson and the ABC Dance Band, The Singing Pierrots, tenor Sydney MacEwan, yodeller Tex Morton and Auld Lang Syne.
The original studios were located at Lords Place, before being relocated to 46 Bathurst Road in East Orange. The station celebrated 70 years of broadcasts in 2007 and 80 years in 2017.