Stories

In 1947, the transistor radio emerged, revolutionising culture. The arrival of this pocket-sized wonder, released commercially in 1955, coincided with the rise of rock'n'roll and the transistor became an emblem of freedom for the newly dubbed teenagers.

The NFSA's Simon Smith shares his unique insights into the innovations, cultural impact and societal shifts seen throughout the Youthquake era.

A flashpoint moment between two media industries standing their ground leads to breakthrough opportunities for new local music artists.

The radio becomes portable, and a kind of mania – Beatlemania – grips the nation as the popularity and powers of DJs and presenters grow, and audiences find a connection in the once-illegal talkback radio.

Jo Palazuelos-Krukowski explores a handful of the horror radio serials that thrilled millions across the nation for decades.

Thorsten Kaeding reveals what he unearthed through Radio 100, including the pros and cons of the immediacy of radio, how it paved the way for television, why more people need to know about the role of women during the Golden Days, and more.

Hear from curators and specialists in soaps, thrillers and Grace Gibson serials as they break down the essential moments of radios’ Golden Days era in these excerpts from the NFSA podcast ‘Who Listens to the Radio?’

A look at how quickly radio ascended from a novelty to an essential part of life for most Australian households.

Industry insiders and radio fans answer the question, 'What does radio mean to you?'

A look at the early days of radio, charting its rise from crystal sets through to first broadcasts and advertisements, the emergence of commercial stations and radio personalities, and how the public’s voracious appetite for daily music, sport, news and conversation hinted at what radio would become.