Hear the story of coastal radio and explore the equipment that once helped keep vessels, communities and emergency services connected across the sea.
The Coastal Radio Exhibit recreates the working environment of a radio communications station, complete with consoles, receivers, microphones, clocks, monitors and records that reflect the technology used before modern digital systems took over.
Before mobile phones, satellite tracking and instant digital communication, coastal radio was a lifeline for vessels travelling along the Queensland coast. Radio operators helped pass messages, monitor distress calls, provide weather updates and maintain contact between ships and shore.
This exhibit recreates the feel of a working radio station, with banks of communication equipment, control panels, microphones, speakers, clocks and paperwork arranged as they would have been in daily use. The display gives visitors a sense of the concentration, skill and responsibility required to operate these systems.
For seafarers, coastal radio could mean the difference between isolation and connection. It helped support safe navigation, emergency response and everyday communication across long distances. Visitors can read the incredible story behind the exhibit and listen as the history of coastal radio is brought to life within the recreated station.
What You'll See
Recreated working coastal radio station display
Original radio communication consoles and control panels
Microphones, speakers, receivers and monitoring equipment
Clocks, records and paperwork used in radio operations
Stories of ship-to-shore communication along the Queensland coast
An audio experience sharing the history of coastal radio
