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A Potted History of wireless and the WIA in Tasmania
Wireless experimenters were busy in Tasmania before the First
World War, 11 stations being listed in 1911.
A.H.Medhurst and W.P.Hallam contacted visiting warships in 1901.
Geoff Hall said his best DX using a spark transmitter and coherer
receiver was only 200 yards!
The Marconi company built a station at Devonport in 1906 to
demonstrate communication with Victoria.
Father Shaw, the "wireless priest" erected a station on King
Island in 1911.
The coast radio station, VIH, was built in Hobart in 1912.
A wireless and Electrical Club was formed in Hobart after the
First World War.
Following a visit to Hobart by H.R.Gregory, who was involved with
the WIA in Sydney, the Tasmanian Division of the Wireless
Institute of Australia was formed at a meeting in Hobart on the
21st February, 1923. The Launceston Wireless Club was granted
affiliation in October, 1923.
The club started boldly with its own rooms in Trafalgar Place.
However, following an unsatisfactory demonstration of wireless at
Hobart's "Palais de Danse" which was probably due to a lack of
knowledge of public address, there was dissension amongst the
members. Later demonstrations held in a hall where the audience
was quiet and not attempting to dance, were successful, Sydney
broadcasting stations being received.
The split led to the formation of the Hobart Radio Research Club
and the Tasmanian Division of the WIA was formally incorporated in
Launceston in 1925.
1924 - the first broadcasting station, 7ZL, opened in Hobart.
The 5th Federal Convention of the WIA was held in Hobart in 1928
when the proceedings took 5 1/2 days. The Convention was also
held in Hobart in 1935 and 1967.
By 1930 the Divisions meetings were being held in Hobart where the
majority of the council members lived.
In 1931 a news bulletin and QSL bureau started.
During the 1930s there was much activity in Hobart with field days
and dinners. In photographs of the time the WIA blazers were
popular.
There were other radio clubs active during the 1930s, notably the
Devonport Radio Club and Army Signals Radio Club. The Hobart
Radio Research Club was disbanded following the reactivation of
the WIA in Hobart.
Club callsigns listed in 1929-36 included 7HR, Hobart Radio
Research Club, 7PR launceston Technical College, 7SR Army Signals
Radio Club and 7WI
The Northern Zone of the Division was formed in Launceston in
1948, followed by the Northwestern Zone.
The annual Remembrance Day contest was first held in 1948, but not
many VK7s entered due to late publicity, however they won it for
the next three years in a row and many times thereafter.
The annual dinner of the Division was popular in the 1930s and in
1956 was held in Bronte Park, a centrally located village built by
the Hydro Electric Commission and now vanished.
A state wide get together was held in Campell Town in 1935.
Campell Town field days continued until the 1960s and in recent
years the informal Central Highland Radio Club have held a
gathering at Penstock Lagoon each year.
Statewide get-togethers have been held over the years, the names
varying with changes in fashion, the main locations being
Ulverstone, Launceston, Campell Town and Hobart.
3590 KHz has been in use for an informal net each day for many
years. The gathering was named the "Sewing Circle" at the
suggestion of ????, the wife of VK7GV. To enable these voices to
meet in person, an annual sewing circle barbecue has been held
since ????