Entertainment, Film, Theatre and TV, Published 24 January 2026
Brisbane had television in 1934??
Long before TV officially arrived in Queensland in 1959, Brisbane was already sneaking a peek into the future. Back in 1934, a small group of passionate radio experimenters were broadcasting homemade television signals from the old Windmill on Wickham Terrace. Yep - Brisbane had TV before TV was even a thing.
Leading the charge was Thomas Elliott, one of Queensland’s earliest ham radio operators. Working from a tiny observatory tower, Elliott teamed up with Dr Val McDowall’s experimental station 4CM to beam images across the city. Every Friday after midnight, he’d fire up his equipment and send pictures into the ether for anyone clever enough to build a receiver. Enthusiasts in Brisbane, Sydney, and even Melbourne tuned in - and some reported surprisingly clear images.
These early broadcasts weren’t just blurry shapes, either. Elliott transmitted crossword puzzles, advertisements, news pages, and even “pictures by request” - including a photo of Hollywood star Janet Gaynor. Later, he pushed things further by modifying a film projector to send moving images. For 1934 Brisbane, this was mind‑blowing stuff.
Although the equipment is long gone, the legacy remains: a handful of dedicated tinkerers in a windy tower proved that Brisbane was ready for television decades before it officially arrived. Their experiments were bold, brilliant, and way ahead of their time - a reminder that innovation often starts with a spark, a soldering iron, and a whole lot of curiosity.
Historical B&W Images: Queensland State Archives, Public Domain
Images colourised by The Dave & Malou Channel
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