History of Amateur Radio in Gympie & surrounding areas

Club member and amateur historian Greg Weir VK4GDW looks into the past history of Amateur Radio in Gympie and surrounding area's.

As part of the WIA's 100 year Anniversary I thought the time was right to look into the past of Amateur Radio in our region. From what I have been told Gympie was one of the first Amateur Radio Club's in Queensland, so the search is on to find out the facts. Before going backwards we will start with the present day club which was formed in 2008

In June 2008, Greg VK4FGDW, Bob VK4MR and Tony VK4GEP met at the Gympie RSL and talked about forming a radio club, the previous club had folded years before due to lack of interest, however the local amateurs thought that the time was right to start up a new club.

With support from Paul VK4YPM who provided the venue, the first meeting was held in the basement of Leading Edge Electronics on the 13th June 2008 and there were 14 attendee's with 3 apologies. The name of the group was decided on and Gympie Communications and Electronics Group was born. That was the start of the present club which has continued to grow and expand.

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To date the earliest record found that mentions "Gympie Amateur Radio" was from 1923. The meeting took place on Wednesday 30th May 1923. Source - Brisbane Courier

"Radio Club - The Gympie Amateur Radio club met on Wednesday, the president (Mr. A.L. Stumm) in the chair. The committee appointed at the initial meeting to go into the matter of the cost of apparatus reported that an expenditure of £30 would be incurred in procuring and installing suitable apparatus for receiving and experimental work." In searching for information Greg discovered the opening of Nambour's first amateur station. VK4HR was officially opened on the 17th September 1933. There is a mention of the Amateur station at Gympie being used to test transmissions on 210.526 meters. Source - Brisbane Courier

NEW RADIO STATION - NAMBOUR, September 17.

"The amateur broadcasting station, VK4HR (Nambour), was officially opened to-day by Councillor J.T Lowe, chairman of the Maroochydore Shire Council. Councillor Lowe said that the district would benefit by the station advertising it. The station has crystal control, and is broadcasting on a wave length of 210.526 meters. The range is estimated to be more than 100 miles. The amateur station at Gympie reported very good reception. Mr. G.F.Jarrett, and Mr. Scholz, engineer and operator, intend to arrange regular programmes and hope ultimately to establish a B class station."

Visit the Dillon history webpage featuring
Gympie Wireless Pioneer - Arthur Ernest Dillon

30th May 1923
First meeting of the Gympie Amateur Radio Club.
A.E. Dillon 4CH promotes formation of the Gympie Club.

2014 Club Group at the Christmas BBQ

See also the About Us page for more Club history.