Seventy years ago today, a grainy black-and-white picture appeared on television screens in Sydney and a new era of Australian entertainment began.
On September 16, 1956, Australia’s first regular television service went to air.
At 7pm, commercial station TCN9 Sydney began regular transmission, with 27-year-old Bruce Gyngell delivering the famous welcome.
Australia had seen experimental and demonstration television before this night, but September 16 marks the beginning of regular television broadcasting.
At first, television was broadcast for only about 22 hours each week. Local programs were dominated by relatively inexpensive variety and quiz shows.
Melbourne followed soon afterwards, with HSV7 and ABC television on air in time for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart followed over the next two years.
And that familiar footage of Gyngell delivering his historic welcome? The NFSA says it isn’t from opening night. The moment was recreated later, probably for TCN9’s first anniversary in 1957.
On September 16, 1987, nations adopted the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement designed to phase out chemicals damaging the Earth’s ozone layer.
It went on to become one of the world’s landmark environmental agreements, controlling almost 100 ozone-depleting chemicals.
September 16 is now recognised by the United Nations as World Ozone Day.
Australian singer Shannon Noll was born on September 16, 1975. The former farm boy from Condobolin shot to national fame on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003 before building a successful recording career.
American actor and comedian Amy Poehler, known for Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, was born on this day in 1971.
Can you remember the first television your family owned? Was everyone crowded around a tiny black-and-white screen — and who controlled which channel you watched? Tell us in the comments.
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