1983
Maurice ‘Maurie’ Searle (SK) on 500 kHz Morse at Wellington Radio ZLW. Maurie later worked at Auckland Radio ZLD until he retired. Photo: NZPO Coast Radio Station Service 1983
Barry Meikle at the radiotelephone desk, c1983. Photo: NZPO Coast Radio Station Service 1983
Radio operator Tim Sollart tunes a Collins 51S-1 receiver at the small ships radiotelephone desk. Tim believes this photo was taken at ZLW in 1982 or 1983.
1983 audio: Wellington Radio ZLW Gale Warning transmitted from Himatangi Radio
Terry Kamana on radiotelex at Wellington Radio ZLW. Photo: NZPO Coast Radio Station Service 1983
1985
The following photos and drawings of the Wellington Radio site are from a property evaluation report by the Divisional Architect, Property Division, Post Office HQ, and based on a visit to the station on 11 April 1985.
Site plan of Wellington Radio ZLW in 1985. Source: NZ Post Office, with labels remade for improved clarity.
Main entrance of the Receiving Office in 1985. Photo: NZ Post Office.
Plan of the Receiving Office in 1985. Source: NZ Post Office
South end of the transmitter building in 1985. Photo: NZ Post Office
North end of the transmitter building in 1985. Photo: NZ Post Office
Plan of the transmitter building in 1985. Source: NZ Post Office
Riggers depot in 1985. Photo: NZ Post Office
Plan of the riggers’ depot in 1985. Source: NZ Post Office
Operating frequencies:
- USB: 2153, 2601, 4378, 4384, 4429, 6501, 6513, 8737, 8752, 13101, 13146, 17257, 17350, 22732, 22801 Khz
- CW: 4277.0, 6393.0, 6449.5, 8504.0, 12740.0, 17170.0, 22533.0
- SITOR: 4211.0, 4212.0, 6315.0, 8417.0, 8418.0, 12580.0, 12581.0, 16807.5, 16808.5, 22377.0, 22378.0
(Source: rec.radio.shortwave)
1989
1990
Plans were made for a ZLW and Radio Section reunion. This advertisement appeared in the Jan-Feb 1990 edition of the amateur radio magazine Break-In.
1991
1991 QSL letter from ZLW signed by Barry Allison
1992
1992 QSL letter from ZLW signed by Graham Turner
ZLW traffic list (partial) courtesy Nigel Hardy ZL2TX
Ships mentioned: Meteorit/ESIT, Amga/ESJY, Atlantic Cognac/FNZE/QOG
1993
ZLW radiotelegraph desk (MF and HF), c1993. Photo: Graham Turner
ZLW radiotelegraph room, 30 Sept 1993
ZLW radiotelephone desk, c1993, comprising VHF (Cook Strait and Wellington South Coast), ZLW 2182/4125 kHz, ZLB (Remoted) 2182/4125 kHz. Photo: Graham Turner
The radiotelephone desk (pictured above) covered 2 and 4 MHz SSB using local transmitters and receivers at ZLW, plus remoted transmitters and receivers at Awarua Radio/ZLB (which had been de-manned in 1991). The desk also included VHF Ch16 via two local Wellington sites.
ZLW radiotelex (left) and radfones (right), c1993. Photo: Graham Turner
ZLW radio telex (4-16 MHz), c1993. Photo: Graham Turner
ZLW radphones equipment (4 HF circuits), plus two logging recorders at right, c1993. Photo: Graham Turner
ZLW manager’s office, c1993. Photo: Graham Turner
ZLW PA’s desk, c1993. Photo: Graham Turner
“Peter Baird had the role of Acting Manager for the last month of Wellington Radio’s operation (September 1993). I had taken leave to join the Maritime Operation Centre/Taupo Maritime during that month prior to the opening of its stage 1 development in October 1993, so Peter was filling in for me. Having said that, I was still going in to work at ZLW in the evenings and weekends to sort out bits and pieces as required.”
– Graham Turner, ZLW Manager 1991-1993
“The closedown of Wellington Radio ZLW was a very turbulent and distressing time for the remaining staff. Over the four years prior to closure it had reduced numbers from approx 35 staff to 13 and then down to 9 staff for the final 2 years. After Awarua Radio ZLB was demanned in 1991, that station was operated remotely by the staff at ZLW. Awarua had operated with around 35 staff as well, so the 9 ZLW staff were doing the work of 70 staff, at a time when they all knew their jobs had a finite tenure. These operators continued to provide a top rate service in a totally professional manner right to the end. The staff who remained were: Graham Turner (Manager), Peter Baird (Acting Manager last 4 weeks), Allan Burgess, Larry Hibbert, Robert ‘Titch’ Gibson, Linda Fowler, Harry Harrison, Brendon Comerford and Craig Wratten.”
– Lyn Turner
Wellington Radio ZLW closed on 30 September 1993.
» 1993-Now
