A few weeks ago, on July 16, 2025, I decided to tune in to as many distant AM broadcast signals as possible. At night, I can easily hear Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, as well as Queensland, frequently. But on this particular night, I wanted to focus on the most distant station that I could hear.

It often makes me laugh when I work a European station on amateur radio and they ask, ‘What is the weather like in Australia today?’ I have to remind them that all of Europe and the United Kingdom can easily fit into Australia, and with plenty of room left.

Some facts on just how big we are in Australia:

• about 3,030 km from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north
• about 3,843 km from Sydney in the east to Perth in the west.

From my QTH:

• Adelaide – Melbourne: about 726 km
• Adelaide – Sydney: about 1,374 km
• Adelaide – Brisbane: about 2,007 km

Above:- Map of Australia compared to Europe and the UK.

So with the distance of Australia in mind, I didn’t really expect to hear any overseas stations. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

Below is a list of what I tuned into:

4MK Mackay, Queensland – 1026 kHz

• 1241 UTC
• Distance of about 1,848 km – fly
• Distance of about 2,587 km – drive
• Weak signal
• playing music
• Being drowned out by 3PB ABC Melbourne, which was strong

Mackay is a city in the Mackay Region of Queensland on the eastern coast, about 803 km north of Brisbane. It is named after John Mackay (b. 1839. d. 1914), a British explorer, sailor, and harbourmaster. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Mackay, Queensland. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4MK is licensed to broadcast in the Mackay region of Queensland. In 1930, it was announced that Mackay would be home to a new low-powered radio station. Mr. J.H. Williams was granted a ‘B’ class license and allotted the call signal 4MK. (Wikipedia 2025) (Trove 2025)

Above: Article from the Daily Mercury, Tue 1 Jul 1930. Image c/o Trove

John Henry Williams was born in July 1880 in Mackay, Queensland. He was a sea captain who settled in Mackay in 1873. His son was John ‘Jack’ Henry Williams, who was born in 1910 in Mackay. (Facebook 2022)

Above: John Henry Williams. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

Jack Williams was a keen amateur radio enthusiast, and as a boy, he constructed his own radios, including a four-valve radio. In 1930, Jack built a transmitter at the family home and shortly after, the 4MK license was granted. The 4MK studio was the family lounge room. Jack was the sole announcer on the station. He was also the technician and program selector for the first 6 months. 4MK transmitted two hours each night, excluding Thursday nights when Jack attended Lodge. Jack later trained his father to be a part-time radio announcer. (Facebook 2022)

Above: John ‘Jack’ Henry Williams. Image c/o Pioneer Valley Museum Facebook page.

More information on 4MK can be found on their website at:

Home

Below is some video of my reception of 4MK.

4LG Longreach, Queensland – 1098 kHz

• 1250 UTC
• Distance – 1,393 km (fly)
• Distance – 2,114 km (drive)
• good signal with slight interference

Longreach is located in Central West Queensland, about 700 km west of Rockhampton. It takes its name from an outstation of Mount Cornish station, called Longreach. The population of Longreach is about 3,100 people. The main industries of the area are cattle, sheep, and tourism. (Wikipedia 2025)(Wikipedia 2023)

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Longreach, Queensland. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4LG commenced broadcasting in 1936 with a B-class broadcasting license. The Courier Mail newspaper in 1936 reported that following tests conducted by 4LG, the station was being heard as far away as Thursday Island, Goodooga in New South Wales, Yeppoon, and Lake Nash in the Northern Territory. (Trove 2025)

Above: Article from The Courier Mail, Brisbane, Wed 6 May 1936. Image c/o Trove

Below is a short video of my reception of 4LG.

4AK Oakey, Queensland – 1242 kHz

• 1305 UTC
• Interference from 3GV Sale, Victoria
• news & weather, music

Oakey is located in the Toowoomba region of Queensland. Its name is derived from the river oaks that dominate the banks of the creek in the town. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Map showing the location of Oakey, Queensland. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4AK first transmitted on air in September 1935. Its initial transmitter power was 1,000 watts and this was later increased to 3,000 watts, making 4AK twice as powerful at that time as any other commercial broadcaster in Queensland. (Trove 2025)

Above: Article from the Pittsworth Sentinel Qld, Sat 21 Dec 1935. Image c/o Trove.

More information on 4AK can be found on their website at:

https://www.4ak.com.au/

Below is a short video of my reception of 4AK.

4RPH Print Radio, Queensland – 1296 kHz

• 1314 UTC
• Distance – 1,621 km – fly
• 2,069 km – drive
• Interference from 6RN Radio National in Western Australia

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Brisbane, Queensland. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

Below is a short video of my reception of 4RPH.

4BU Bundaberg, Queensland – 1332 kHz

• 1317 UTC
• Distance – 1,732 km – fly
• Distance – 2,297 km – drive
• Very weak
• Lots of interference from 3SH Swan Hill, Victoria on the same frequency
• playing music

Bundaberg is a major regional city in Queensland, about 385 km north of Brisbane. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Bundaberg, Queensland. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4BU first went on air on the 17th day of December 1935. (Trove 2025)

Above: newspaper article from The Courier Mail, Brisbane, Tue 17 Dec 1935. Image c/o Trove

At the time of its opening, 4BU was owned by Bundaberg Broadcasters Pty Ltd. Its managing director was Mr. W. Harvey. (Trove 2025)

Above: 4BU, 1952. Image c/o State Library NSW

More information on 4BU can be found on their website at:

Home

Below is a short video showing my reception of 4BU

4CC Rockhampton, Queensland – 1584 kHz

• 1330 UTC
• Distance – 1,727 km – fly
• Distance – 2,294 km – drive
• Several stations broadcast on this frequency, and there was a lot of interference.

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Rockhampton. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4CC commenced broadcasting to the Central Queensland cities of Rockhampton and Gladstone in August 1970 under the callsign of 4CD. In 1985, following the station’s purchase by Wesgo, the callsign was changed to 4CC. (Wikipedia 2025)

Below is a short video of my reception of 4CC.

4RO Rockhampton, Queensland -990 kHz

• 1337 UTC
• light signal
• Distance – 1,727 km – fly
• Distance – 2,294 km – drive

This was the second station in Rockhampton that I was able to copy.

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Rockhampton. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4RO first went on air on the 2nd day of July 1932. It was the second station in Rockhampton, following 4RK. The station was opened by the Mayor of Rockhampton, Mr. Thomas Joseph Lee. The station was located at the corner of East Street and Denham Street, Rockhampton. The studio was located on the second floor of the building, while the antenna was strung between two masts at the rear of the building (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Part of an article from the Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, Mon 4 Jul 1932. Image c/o Trove

4RO’s current studios are located at the corner of Fitzroy Street and East Street, Rockhampton.

Above: 4RO’s current location in Rockhampton. Image c/o Wikipedia.

Below is a short video showing my reception of 4RO.

4WK Warwick, Queensland – 963 kHz

• 1343 UTC

Warwick is located in southeast Queensland, about 130 km southwest of Brisbane. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above:- Map of Australia showing the location of Warwick. Map c/o Google Maps

Discussions were held in 1930 for a radio station at Warwick. It was initially proposed that the station would simply be a relay station for the Australian Broadcasting Company’s National Broadcasting Service. However, the plans never eventuated. (Wikipedia 2025)

In 1934, the Warwick Broadcasting Proprietary Company Limited was registered for the purpose of establishing a radio station at Warwick. Later that year, on the 28th day of June 1935, 4WK was officially opened by Sir Littleton Ernest Groom, an Australian politician (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Article from The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Thu 7 Feb 1935. Image c/o Trove

Below is a short video of my reception of 4WK.

4VL Charleville, Queensland – 918 kHz

• 1348 UTC
• Distance – 1,200 km – fly
• Distance – 1,600 km – drive

Charlesville is located about 747 km west of Brisbane. It is believed the town was named after the town of Charleville in County Cork, Ireland, by William Alcock Tully, Surveyor General of Queensland, who laid out the town’s streets. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above:- Map showing the distance between my QTH and Charleville. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4VL commenced broadcasting on Wednesday the 12th day of February 1936. The station was opened by Mr. C.R. Noyes, Police Magistrate. (Trove 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Part of an article from The Charleville Times, Fri 14 Feb 1936. Image c/o Trove.

Above: John Taylor, radio announcer at 4VL, 1956. Image c/o National Archives of Australia.

Below is the program guide for 4VL in December 1946.

Above:- Article from The Charleville Times, Fri 20 Dec 1946. Image c/o Trove.

Below is a short video of my reception of 4VL

China National Radio CNR6 – 909 kHz

• 1355 UTC
• 300 kW transmitter
• located in Quanzhou, Fujian, China
• Distance about 6,980 km

Above: Map showing the location of the CNR6 transmitter. Map c/o Google Maps.

Below is a short video of my reception of CNR6.

4GR Toowoomba, Queensland – 864 kHz

• 1405 UTC
• Distance 1,503 km – fly
• Distance – 1,925 km – drive

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Toowoomba. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4GR was the first commercial radio station to broadcast in the state of Queensland, and the sixth oldest in Australia following 2UE Sydney, 2HD Newcastle, 2UW Sydney, 5DN Adelaide, & 3UZ Melbourne. Edward Gold had conducted test radio broadcasts in a shed from his experimental radio station 4EG. He then acquired the 4GR license and commenced broadcasting on the 17th day of August 1925. (Toowoomba 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Article from The Brisbane Courier, Mon 17 Aug 1925. Image c/o Trove

Edward Edwin ‘Ted’ Gold was born on the 21st day of February 1894 at Samsonvale, Queensland. Ted obtained the experimental licence of 4EG in 1922. He died on the 5th day of January 1961 in Brisbane, Queensland, aged just 66 years. (Ancestry 2021) (Aust Old Time Radio 2020)

Above: Edward Gold. Image c/o ancestry.com.au

Below is an excellent YouTube video of the history of 4GR.

Below is a short video of my reception of 4GR.

4RN Brisbane – 792 kHz

• 1408 UTC
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National station in Brisbane
• Interference from 5RM Renmark, South Australia.

4RN initially operated under the call of 4QG, which commenced broadcasting in Brisbane in July 1925 under an A-class license. The number 4 denoted the state of Queensland, while QG stood for Queensland Government. 4QG initially operated on the frequency of 779.2 kHz. 4QG was the only station in Queensland to have been established by the Government. All other stations in Queensland were privately owned. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: 1928 postcard from 4QG. Image c/o flickr

Above: an early 4QG QSL card. Image c/o flickr

Below is a short video of my reception of 4RN

4QW Roma, Queensland – 711 kHz

• 1411 UTC
• ABC Western Queensland
• talkback program

Roma is a rural town in the Maranoa region of Queensland. It takes its name after Lady Diamantina Bowen (nee di Roma), who was the wife of Sir George Bowen, who at the time was the Governor of Queensland. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Map showing the location of Roma, Queensland. Map c/o Google Maps.

Below is a short video of my reception of 4QW.

8RN Tennant Creek, Northern Territory – 684 kHz

• 1415 UTC
• ABC Radio National
• Distance – 1,750 km – fly
• Distance – 2,039 km – drive

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Tennant Creek. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

Below is a short video of my reception of 8RN.

4CC Biloela, Queensland – 666 kHz

• 1420 UTC
• This is a repeater site of 4CC Rockhampton

Above: Map showing the location of Biloela. Map c/o Google Maps

More information can be found on their website at:

Home

Below is a short video of my reception of 4CC.

2WEB Bourke, New South Wales – 585 kHz

• 1429 UTC
• Distance – 884 km – fly
• Distance – 1,142 km – drive

Bourke is located in northwest New South Wales, about 778 km northwest of Sydney. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Bourke. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

More information on 2WEB can be found on their website at:

Welcome

Below is a short video of my reception of 2WEB.

6WA Wagin, Western Australia – 558 kHz

• 1432 UTC
• ABC Great Southern

Wagin is located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about 225 km southeast of Perth. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Map showing the location of Wagin, Western Australia. Map c/o Google Maps

6WA is part of ABC Great Southern which broadcasts to the Great Southern region of WA and parts of the Wheatbelt regions of WA. (Wikipedia 2025)

6WA, the South West Regional Broadcasting Station, also known as the Minding Radio Station, was built in 1936 as an ABC transmission station. The building is registered with the Heritage Council, Western Australia. (WA 2025)

Above: South West Regional Broadcasting Station, Minding, WA, c. 1936. Image c/o State Library Western Australia

6WA’s official opening was at 8.00 p.m. Perth time, on Monday, the 7th day of December 1936. A special inaugural program for the station was broadcast from the Wagin Town Hall. 6WA’s power was 10,000 watts.

Above: Article from The West Australian, Mon 7 Dec 1936. Image c/o Trove

Below is an article from The West Australian in 1937 showing the broadcast programs for 6WA.

Above: Article from The West Australian, Wed 21 Apr 1937. Image c/o Trove

Below is a short video of my reception of 6WA.

2BH Broken Hill, New South Wales – 567 kHz

• 1435 UTC
• Distance – 425 km – fly
• Distance – 520 km – drive

Above: Map showing the distance between my QTH and Broken Hill. Map c/o airmilescalculator.com

Although not a long way from my QTH, I found listening in to Broken Hill very interesting, as Broken Hill is a quintessential Australian outback town.

2BH serves Broken Hill, NSW and parts of the Far West region. The station commenced broadcasting in July 1934, with a B-class license. (Trove 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Article from The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 2 Jul 1934. Image c/o Trove.

The 2BH building in Broken Hill is shaped like an old radio and contains a museum of various radios and transmitters, tape reels, and speakers. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: 2BH in Broken Hill. Image c/o Blueturtle01 Wikipedia.

Below is a short video of my reception of 2BH.

4QL Longreach, Queensland – 540 kHz

• 1438 UTC
• Distance – 1,393 km (fly)
• Distance – 2,114 km (drive)

This was the second station in Longreach that I tuned in to.

Above:- Map showing the distance between my QTH and Longreach, Queensland. Map c/o airmilecalculator.com

4QL is part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Western Queensland. Its broadcast area is Central West Queensland, South West Queensland, and some areas of the Gulf and other remote parts of Queensland. 4QL commenced broadcasting in 1947 on 690 kHz. (Wikipedia 2025)

Below is a short video of my reception of 4QL.

SUMMARY.

It was an interesting night with several stations in Queensland logged, some between 1,700-1,800 km away. I also logged 6WA in Wagin, Western Australia, a distance of about 2,120 km. I also tuned in to 8RN in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, a distance of about 1,750 km

The highlight of the night was tuning into China National Radio on 909 kHz nearly 7,000 km away.

.

.

References.

1. Ancestry.com.au. (2021). Ancestry – Sign in. [online] Available at: https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30424718/person/322259312853/facts [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025].
2. ‌Australian Old Time Radio. (2020). The History. [online] Available at: https://www.australianotr.com.au/the-history.html [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025].
3. ‌Facebook.com. (2022). Pioneer Valley Museum. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/pioneervalleymuseum/posts/jack-williamsjohn-henry-williams-was-born-in-1910-in-mackay-and-was-the-third-ge/4082999081757865/ [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025].
4. ‌Toowoomba.org. (2021). 4GR Radio Station. [online] Available at: https://www.toowoomba.org/index.php/articles/entertainment/4gr-radio-station [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025].
5. ‌Trove. (2025). NEW RADIO STATION – 4BU Opened at Bundaberg. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35921521 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].
6. ‌Trove. (2025). THREE NEW STATIONS. – ONE IN MACKAY. – Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld. : 1906 – 1954) – 1 Jul 1930. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170456129 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].
7. ‌Trove. (2025). NEW RADIO STATION – LONGREACH, Tuesday. – The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) – 6 May 1936. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38484508 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].
8. ‌Trove. (2025). 4RO ON THE AIR – Broadcasting Station ROCKHAMPTONS SECOND Opened On Saturday By Mayor – Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 – 1954) – 4 Jul 1932. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55504400 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].
9. ‌Trove. (2025). Cloud Capped Towers of THE NEW 4BK – The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) – 4 May 1937. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37053563?searchTerm=4ak%201935 [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025].
10. ‌Trove. (2025). The Charleville Times (Brisbane, Qld. : 1896 – 1954) – 14 Feb 1936 – p7. [online] Available at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/7547542?searchTerm=4vl [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025].
11. ‌Wa.gov.au. (2025). Catalogue: State Library of WA & WA Health Libraries Network. [online] Available at: https://catalogue.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b2379873 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].
12. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). ABC Western Queensland. Wikipedia.
13. Wikipedia. (2021). Bundaberg. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundaberg. [access 28 Jul 2025]
14. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4BU. Wikipedia.
15. ‌Wikipedia. (2023). Longreach, Queensland. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longreach. [accessed 28 Jul. 2025]
16. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4MK. Wikipedia.‌
17. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4CC (AM). Wikipedia.
18. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4RO. Wikipedia.
19. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2024). 2BH. Wikipedia.‌
20. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Wagin, Western Australia. Wikipedia.
21. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). John Mackay (Australian pioneer). Wikipedia.
22. ‌Wikipedia. (2021). Mackay. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackay. [accessed 29 Jul 2025]
23. ‌Wikipedia. (2023). Longreach, Queensland. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longreach. [accessed 29 Jul. 2025]
24. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Oakey, Queensland. Wikipedia.
25. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4CC (AM). Wikipedia.
26. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4RO. Wikipedia.
27. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Warwick. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick. [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025]
28. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). 4WK. Wikipedia.
29. ‌Wikipedia. (2021). Charleville. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleville. [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025]
30. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Triple M Darling Downs. Wikipedia.
31. ‌Wikipedia (2022). Roma. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma. [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025]
32. ‌Wikipedia. (2015). Bourke. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourke. [Accessed 29 Jul. 2025]
33. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2023). 4RN Brisbane. Wikipedia.‌