I am not going to pretend that this small history is adequate. More
histories are on their way, but it gives the uninitiated a place to get
an overal feel for the station. One of its strengths has been this long
and colourful history it has had. When you become part of SRA-FM, and start
to undersand this history you begin to realise how very lucky you are to
have woven yourself into part of this history. Time spent here is
something to be very proud of.
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1962- Established by RMIT students. Called Studio One Club and operated
from Story Hall.
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1964- Electronic Engineering Students revamp
studios: broadcasts to larger section of RMIT campus. Continued to
do campus broadcasting.
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1970-73- Incorporates as a department of RMIT’s SRC. Relocated
to bigger studios in Building 18 and continued to broadcast on campus and
occasionally in conjunction with other university stations.
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1973 - Formed a consortium with the other student stations (called
itself SRA) and applied for first round of limited commercial licences.
The licence went to 3CR.
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1974- RMIT gained an experimental educational licence. The station
was called 3RMT, and licence was owned by the University, not 3ST.
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1979- Relationship between the University owned station (3RMT) and
the student station becomes tense. 3RRR receives a full ime licence and
moves off campus, and a consortium is formed between Melbourne's
larger Universities to fund 3RRR. The campus radio club continues at RMIT
(as 3ST).
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1983- 3ST blitzes in the Australian Radio Awards (apparently). Little
else is known about the period 1983 to 1987.
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1987 to 89 - Possibly first test transmission as 3ST. Station Manager
at the time may have been Bill Pemberton (who is responsible for changing
the name back to SRA). It is likely that 3ST did some experimental broadcasts
as early as 1979.
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1993- SRA relocates to brand new studios in building 12. Continues
test broadcasts.
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1995 to 1998- SRA broadcasts for the firts time in 12 months and
does a live simulcast of O’night with RMITV. This are a huge success, and
over the next three years SRA continues to broadcast this event and does
13 test broadcasts. Listenership and membership greatly increases over
this time and SRA commits itself to applying for a community radio licence.
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1998 - SRA participates in a joint broadcast with five of Melbourne's
other student radio stations. The "Student Radio Festival" raises awareness
of student radio on the airwaves and is the start of greater co-operation
between the stations involved.
A more detailed history of the last four years can be found soon
in the
SRA-Fm section of the site.
If you can in any way add to this time-table please email
me. |
A Time Line...