Original 1913 buildings at Awarua Radio, seen in the early 1950s before additional housing was built at left of photo. Superintendent’s and Faass residences visible. Receiving station (built in the 1940s) in the distance.
Joe Collett operating 500kHz morse code in 1950. Joe served as manager of Awarua Radio 1981-1985.
1950
Recommencement of copying epidemiological bulletins from Geneva.
1951
Notices to mariners were broadcast from Awarua Radio ZLB using A2 (modulated radiotelegraphy) on 500 kHz and A3 (AM radiotelephone) on 2162 kHz.
Extract from List of Special Service Stations, July 1951, ITU Geneva
Medical advice to ships was available from Awarua Radio, using radiotelegraphy.
Extract from List of Special Service Stations, July 1951, ITU Geneva
Campbell Island and Kermadec Island now manned by CAA and communication by radiotelephone with Wellington.
Awarua Radio technicians in the early 1950s. L-R: Ivan Breayley, Don Nicol, Ernie Hancock. Courtesy Alex Glennie
1952
Macquarie Island VJM commences.
Government approves development of station grounds and surrounding land as a farm, due to efforts of WA Wallace through the MP for Awarua, GR Herron.
Awarua Radio ZLB transmitted weather bulletins for coastal shipping four times a day using radiotelephone on 2162 kHz.
Extract from List of Special Service Stations, July 1951, ITU Geneva, with Updates from Supplement 4 (1952)
1953
Three additional residences built for staff.
Awarua Radio operator Syd Faass in 1953. Courtesy: Alex Glennie
1954
Superintendent WA Wallace retired and replaced by J Houlihan.
Harvesting swedes at the new Awarua Radio farm in 1954. Farm manager GW Pollard (left) with radio manager Alec Wallace. Courtesy Alex Glennie
“I found the above photograph particularly interesting with the “new” Awarua Receiving Station in the back ground. Note the different coloured roofing iron on the right side of the building. This is an add-on to the station which wasn’t there when you compare photographs taken in 1940-1941 when the station was built.”
– Alex Glennie
Awarua Radio c1955-1960 looking northeast. The new staff housing is beside the Invercargill-Bluff highway on the left with the original station buildings grouped in an open area near the centre of the picture. Between them, and sheltered by large trees, are the three original staff cottages. The purpose-built receiving office (RO) added in 1940 is off the picture to the right along a road hidden from view by a line of small trees. The road heading diagonally down to the lower right leads to the relatively isolated HFDF building.
Photo: Whites Aviation. Click to enlarge.
QSL card confirming reception of Awarua Radio ZLB on 22 July 1954. From the collection of Brian Webb who hand-drew cards such as these, then sent them to stations for verification.
1955
Lands End Radio logged on 2182 kc/s QSA 3/4.
Farm manager’s house built.
JU Bonisch replaces J Houlihan as Senior Supervisor.
Plan of the farm manager’s house, built in 1955, at Awarua Radio. Click to enlarge.
Awarua Radio ZLB operator Bill Burt maintaining his garden, at one of the radio station staff houses, in the mid 1950s. Photo courtesy Alex Glennie
1956
Scott Base (Antarctica) opened and communication established with Awarua.
Awarua Radio in 1956, with labels by Alex Glennie. Click to enlarge.
Politicians visiting Awarua Radio c1956. From left: Invercargill MP Ralph Hannan, Awarua Radio Superintendent John Houlihan. At far right Prime Minister Sid Holland
1957
IGY (International Geophysical Year) team installed at Awarua.
JU Bonisch promoted to Superintendent, Auckland Radio. PJ Columb promoted to Senior Supervisor Awarua Radio.
Daily communication with Hallett Station (Antarctica) commenced.
Technical staff from Awarua Radio visiting Dog Island in the 1950s, photographed with lighthouse keepers and children. Ernie Hancock is in the centre holding two children (Stephen Mead is the child on the left) and to Ernie’s right is rigger Cyril Mincher (wearing hat). In the back row, third from the right is Stephen’s father, lightkeeper Don Mead.
1958
J Houlihan retired and was replaced by JU Bonisch. AH Greaney retired.
Farm management taken over by Lands & Survey Department.
Radiotelephone service between Milford Sound and Awarua linked with toll system.
Syd Faass, telegraphist at Awarua Radio from 1942 to 1962. Photo probably late 1950s.
1959
Negotiations are in hand to acquire approximately 2000 acres of land near the present site with the object of shifting the receiving station to a position further from electric-power transmission lines and other potential industrial soureces of radio interference.
– Radio Information Bulletin, Vol 2, Jan 1959
Epidemiological Bulletin Service ceased, as did communication with Hallett Station.
“In 1955-61 I was a Radio Officer with NZ Shipping Co and while on MV Hinakura/GDVS tied up in Tilbury Docks, London the Captain came to the radio room and gave me a telegram for the NZ Shipping Co Auckland Office. No hurry, he said, as we were due to sail in a couple of days for Curacao/Panama/Auckland. I had nothing much to do and while we were not supposed to transmit while in port decided at 1800 hrs that day to give ZLB a call on 8 megs on the off chance of a reply. So… “ZLB ZLB ZLB de GDVS GDVS GDVS HW”. To my surprise an immediate reply at good signal strength, so I moved to a working frequency and sent the message for the Auckland office. After getting the QSL I told the ZLB operator of my location and he replied that that would be a record for communication on 8 Megs. I must have timed the call right to get darkness around half of the earth’s surface to assist the signal. Our Captain was impressed with the timing also. I had a lot of contacts with ZLB over my seven years at sea with NZ Shipping Co. I am now 86 in the Hibiscus Village Retirement Home with my wife Judy of 62 years and morse code is still embedded in my brain.”
– Roger Jay (May 2023)
