# ABC Radio Melbourne
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{{short description|Radio station in Melbourne, Victoria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox radio station
| city = [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), Victoria
| country = [Australia](/source/Australia)
| above =
| name = 774 ABC Melbourne
| callsign = 3LO
| logo = ABC Radio Melbourne logo 2017.png
| logo_size = 120px
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| area = [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), Australia
| frequency = {{ubl|[AM](/source/AM_broadcasting): {{Frequency|774|kHz}}|[DAB+](/source/DAB%2B): 9C Melbourne}}
| rds =
| branding =
| languages = English
| format = [Talk radio](/source/Talk_radio)
| subchannels =
| network = [ABC Local Radio](/source/ABC_Local_Radio)
| affiliations =
| owner = [Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation)
| licensee =
| operator =
| sister_stations = {{Collapsible list
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;
|title=
|1=[ABC Classic](/source/ABC_Classic)
|2=[ABC Country](/source/Double_J_(radio))
|3=[ABC Jazz](/source/Double_J_(radio))
|4=[ABC NewsRadio](/source/ABC_NewsRadio)
|5=[ABC RN](/source/Radio_National)
|6=[Double J](/source/Double_J_(radio))
|7=[triple j](/source/Triple_J)
|8=[triple j Unearthed](/source/Triple_J_Unearthed)
}}
| founded =
| airdate = {{start date and age|1924|10|13|df=yes}}
| last_airdate =
| former_callsigns =
| former_names =
| former_frequencies = {{ubl|AM: {{Frequency|800|kHz}} (1924–1935)|AM: {{Frequency|770|kHz}} (1935–1978)}}
| callsign_meaning = Named after [2LO](/source/2LO) in London
| licensing_authority = [Australian Communications and Media Authority](/source/Australian_Communications_and_Media_Authority)
| acma_bsl =
| power = 50000 [W](/source/Watt)
| coordinates = {{coord|-37.72055|144.784034|display=inline,title}}
| repeaters = {{ubl|[FM broadcasting](/source/FM_broadcasting): {{Frequency|89.5|MHz}} [Apollo Bay](/source/Apollo_Bay%2C_Victoria)|FM: {{Frequency|96.1|MHz}} [Mount Donna Buang](/source/Mount_Donna_Buang)}}
| webcast = [https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/live/ Listen Live]
| website = {{url|https://abc.net.au/melbourne/}}
}}
'''774 ABC Melbourne''' ([callsign](/source/List_of_radio_station_callsigns_in_Victoria): 3LO, officially VL3LO) is an [ABC Local Radio](/source/ABC_Local_Radio) station in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), Australia. It began transmission on 13 October 1924 and was Melbourne's second licensed radio station after [3AR](/source/Radio_National).
The other ABC Local Radio stations in Victoria simulcast 774 ABC Melbourne's programming when not airing local shows for their area.
==History==
The Broadcasting Company of Australia started the station. The company was owned by [J. & N. Tait](/source/J._%26_N._Tait) (theatrical entrepreneurs), [Buckley & Nunn](/source/Buckley_%26_Nunn) (a department store) and [the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd](/source/the_Herald_and_Weekly_Times_Ltd) (a newspaper company).[{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/03/06/2181679.htm|title = From 3LO to 774 – ABC (None) – Australian Broadcasting Corporation| website=[Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation) }}]
The station was named after [2LO](/source/2LO) in England, where ''LO'' probably stood for "London". However, many radio historians believe the following alternative reason for 2LO's name: the first landline between the studio and transmitter did not work properly and, therefore, a second line was put into use, and someone humorously named the station 2LO, standing for "Second Line Out".{{citation needed|date=January 2026}}
The first transmission began with an outside broadcast of a performance of the opera ''La Bohème'', featuring Dame [Nellie Melba](/source/Nellie_Melba), from His Majesty's Theatre.[{{Cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/about/?ref=footer |title=About Us – ABC Melbourne – Australian Broadcasting Corporation |website=[Australian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation) |access-date=8 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209141944/http://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/about/?ref=footer |archive-date=9 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}]
The station initially operated on longwave on 174 kHz (1720 metres) using 5,000 watts from a site in what is today [Maidstone](/source/Maidstone%2C_Victoria) (and was then considered Braybrook). In July 1925, it moved to the mediumwave 810 kHz.[{{cite web |title=1924 – Braybrook (Melbourne) Transmitters |url=http://bpadula.tripod.com/australiashortwave/id37.html |website=bpadula.tripod.com}}]
From 1927 to 1939, the shortwave service "Voice of Australia" broadcast 3LO material to the world.[{{cite web |title=1924 – Braybrook (Melbourne) Transmitters |url=http://bpadula.tripod.com/australiashortwave/id37.html |website=bpadula.tripod.com}}]
From 1928 the [Postmaster-General's Department](/source/Postmaster-General's_Department) (PMG) was responsible for the technical side of all Australian A Class stations including 3LO. Also in 1928, the [Australian Broadcasting Company](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Company) was given a licence to provide all programming on 3LO. The Australian Broadcasting Company was nationalised and became the [Australian Broadcasting Commission](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Commission) in 1932.[{{cite web|url=http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/RADIO_HIST_AUS.html |title=Adventures in CyberSound |access-date=3 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903081543/http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/RADIO_HIST_AUS.html |archive-date=3 September 2007 }}]
In 1938, transmission moved from Maidstone to [Delahey](/source/Delahey%2C_Victoria) (on a site then considered St Albans), where it remains today.[{{cite web |title=1924 – Braybrook (Melbourne) Transmitters |url=http://bpadula.tripod.com/australiashortwave/id37.html |website=bpadula.tripod.com}}]
The two Melbourne stations (3LO and 3AR) had a studio in Melbourne Place, a laneway off Russell Street near Little Collins Street, until the building of Broadcast House in [Lonsdale Street](/source/Lonsdale_Street) in 1945. The 3LO on-air studio at Broadcast House was studio 308, although for many years the news broadcasts came from Marland House in Bourke Street. The studios were transferred to the ABC's new Southbank Centre in 1995.
In its early days the station was involved in programs, such as ''Kindergarten of the Air'', giving children in regional areas greater social awareness and preparation for school.
In early 2006, with the start of the [2006 Commonwealth Games](/source/2006_Commonwealth_Games) in Melbourne, the ABC set up what was known as "The G-Spot" at [Federation Square](/source/Federation_Square) – an outside broadcast studio where members of the public could watch and participate in the broadcast. At the same time, 774 ABC Melbourne became the second Local Radio station to introduce streaming broadcasts in addition to its regular radio broadcast, subject to sporting rights and legal concerns.
==Present==
774 ABC Melbourne provides a mix of local and national news, [talkback](/source/Talk_radio), [current affairs](/source/Current_affairs_(news_format)) and sports programming. During part of the day it is also identified as "774 ABC Melbourne and ABC Victoria", as much of its content is also heard on other stations in the [ABC Local Radio](/source/ABC_Local_Radio) network in Victoria. It is also available through online streaming.
774 ABC Melbourne's 774 kHz [transmitter](/source/transmitter) is located in Delahey, 20 km north-west of Melbourne's central business district. The station broadcasts at a power of 50,000 [watt](/source/watt)s, covering the majority of Victoria, and one of two transmitters using the callsign 3LO, the other being at Marengo on 89.5 MHz with an EIRP of about 327 watts serving the Apollo Bay area.
774 ABC Melbourne sometimes broadcasts live from events such as the [Gardening Australia Expo](/source/Gardening_Australia), the [Melbourne International Comedy Festival](/source/Melbourne_Comedy_Festival), the [C31 Melbourne Antenna Awards](/source/Antenna_Awards), the [Royal Melbourne Show](/source/Royal_Melbourne_Show) and the [Royal Geelong Show](/source/Geelong_Showgrounds).
The station is housed in the ABC Southbank Centre, which has four levels incorporating ABC Local Radio, ABC Radio National, [ABC Classic](/source/ABC_Classic), [Triple J](/source/Triple_J), [ABC Dig Music](/source/ABC_DiG), [Radio Australia](/source/Radio_Australia), [Australia Network](/source/Australia_Network), [ABC News and Current Affairs](/source/ABC_News_and_Current_Affairs) and [ABC TV](/source/ABC_Television_(Australian_TV_network)).
774 ABC Melbourne is an official Emergency Services Broadcaster, a role it notably filled during the [Black Saturday bushfires](/source/Black_Saturday_bushfires) and recovery in 2009.