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Radio 5AU (1242 AM) is a 
Modern studios were opened at Denton Court, Port Augusta in December 1968 and Whyalla studios were rebuilt and commissioned in July 1972 at the 15 Barter Street location.
In the early 1970s, programs were broadcast from both locations, with the Breakfast program mainly based at Port Augusta. Mornings, Afternoon, Drive and Nights emanated from Whyalla. The South Australian Broadcasting Network (SABN) grew from ownership of the Methodist church and the Labor party in December 1943. The Network, was ultimately, 5KA Adelaide, 5AU Port Augusta/Whyalla and 5RM Renmark. Under that ownership, advertising was not allowed broadcast on Sunday's prior to 1973, when that rule was relaxed.
Many announcers worked at 5AU. Some, from the 1960s, 70's and 80's, include: Dean Matters, Bob Byrne, Bob Reid, Dean Banks, Paul Hodges, Mark Carter, Sue Fraser, David Sabine, Mal Hedstrom, Keith Fowler, Tony Gordon. Mark Watson, Mark Elliston, Peter Morris, Leighton Marshall, Colin Jones, Gary Oborn, Craig Bruce, Paul Wise, Noel McMahon, Rob McCasker, Jim Glennon, Rohan Chabaud, Dave Richardson, Don Plenty.
Ownership: Grant Broadcasters (2013-2022) & Australian Radio Network (since 2022)
On March 1, 2021, 5AU commenced broadcasting on the new FM signal, 97.9FM. 8 months later, in November 2021, 5AU, along with other stations owned by ARN and Grant Broadcasters unite to create Australia's leading radio and digital audio business
''AdNews Australia'' 4 January 2022 It is expected 5AU will integrate with ARN's
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
n radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
broadcasting a classic hits format from its transmitter site at Mambray Creek into the Whyalla
Whyalla was founded as "Hummocks Hill", and was known by that name until 1916. It is the fourth most populous city in the Australian state of South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Gawler and along with Port Pirie and Port Augusta ...
, Port Augusta
Port Augusta is a small city in South Australia. Formerly a port, seaport, it is now a road traffic and Junction (rail), railway junction city mainly located on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf immediately south of the gulf's head and about ...
, Port Pirie
Port Pirie is a small city on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, north of the state capital, Adelaide. The city has an expansive history which dates back to 1845. Port Pirie was the first proclaimed regional city in South ...
, Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo
Wallaroo is a common name for several species of moderately large macropods, intermediate in size between the kangaroos and the wallabies. The word "wallaroo" is from the Dharug ''walaru'', and not a portmanteau of the words "kangaroo" and "wal ...
area and north into the Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts about north of Adelaide. The ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna.
The Adnyamathanha people are the Aboriginal group who have inhabi ...
.
Established with studios in Port Augusta, first broadcast 25 May 1938. Also separate studio facilities in Whyalla.
During the 1940s/1950s they relayed 5KA Adelaide programs in some day-parts. 5AU often broadcast balls from Whyalla and Hawker.
Transmission power was upgraded (located at Nectar Brook 32.5 km south of Port Augusta) with an S.T.C. 2,000 watt transmitter in 1961. and relay transmitters at Port Pirie and Roxby Downs.
To improve coverage, particularly into the Whyalla area, the transmitter station was relocated in 1976 to Mambray Creek, 47 km south of Port Augusta. The transmitters were the STC transmitter from Nectar Brook (operating at 2.5 kW) plus a new 2.5 Kw unit. The frequency was changed from the original 1450 kHZ to the lower 1240 kHz and later 1242 kHz.
Modern studios were opened at Denton Court, Port Augusta in December 1968 and Whyalla studios were rebuilt and commissioned in July 1972 at the 15 Barter Street location.
In the early 1970s, programs were broadcast from both locations, with the Breakfast program mainly based at Port Augusta. Mornings, Afternoon, Drive and Nights emanated from Whyalla. The South Australian Broadcasting Network (SABN) grew from ownership of the Methodist church and the Labor party in December 1943. The Network, was ultimately, 5KA Adelaide, 5AU Port Augusta/Whyalla and 5RM Renmark. Under that ownership, advertising was not allowed broadcast on Sunday's prior to 1973, when that rule was relaxed.
Many announcers worked at 5AU. Some, from the 1960s, 70's and 80's, include: Dean Matters, Bob Byrne, Bob Reid, Dean Banks, Paul Hodges, Mark Carter, Sue Fraser, David Sabine, Mal Hedstrom, Keith Fowler, Tony Gordon. Mark Watson, Mark Elliston, Peter Morris, Leighton Marshall, Colin Jones, Gary Oborn, Craig Bruce, Paul Wise, Noel McMahon, Rob McCasker, Jim Glennon, Rohan Chabaud, Dave Richardson, Don Plenty.
Ownership: Grant Broadcasters (2013-2022) & Australian Radio Network (since 2022)
On March 1, 2021, 5AU commenced broadcasting on the new FM signal, 97.9FM. 8 months later, in November 2021, 5AU, along with other stations owned by Grant Broadcasters
Grant Broadcasters is an Australian regional radio network. Founded in 1942, by 2019 it owned 53 radio stations. In 2022 it sold 46 to Here, There & Everywhere retaining shareholdings in seven in Canberra, Geelong, Goulburn and Perth.
History
...
, were acquired by the Australian Radio Network
ARN is a group of commercial radio stations around Australia. It includes the Pure Gold, KIIS Network, CADA, ARN Regional and iHeartRadio brands.
The company operates the ARN News service in Australia, which uses international correspondents ...
. This deal will allow Grant's stations, including 5AU, to access ARN's iHeartRadio platform in regional areas. The deal was finalized on January 4, 2022.''AdNews Australia'' 4 January 2022 It is expected 5AU will integrate with ARN's
Pure Gold Network
The Pure Gold Network is a network of radio stations owned and operated by ARN.
Stations
As of 1 July 2022, the Pure Gold network consists of five radio stations.
Networked shows
* ''JAM Nation with Jonesy & Amanda''
* ''The Christian ...
, but will retain its current name according to the press release from ARN.
Source/s: Australian AM Radio History by Bruce Carty Ph.D. Amplitude Modulated Broadcast Stations in South Australia By Lloyd Butler. Public domain and Generic Australian radio announcers history.
References
External links
* {{Coord, -32.5078, 137.7772, type:landmark_region:AU, display=title Radio stations in South Australia Classic hits radio stations in Australia Australian Radio Network Port Augusta