Heritage FM Inc. now known as 107.3 HFM started off from humble beginnings in Aramadale as Heritage FM 93.7. After a lot of community consultation and planning Heritage FM began broadcasting on Australia Day 1996. Back then you found us at 93.7FM broadcasting from studios located in Orchard Avenue, Armadale.
Leading up to this historic occasion a small group were led by the Mayor of Armadale, Councillor Spike Fokkema. They had worked hard to establish a broadcasting facility that the community could be proud of. The opening day’s broadcast began at 10.00am – The first voice you heard on air was Darren DeMello as host for the first hour – this program featured Australian music in the lead up to a simulcast of the City of Armadale’s Australia Day Sky show.
These simulcasts continued on the station over the years and our volunteers still continue to take part in the event in several ways. For the first few months on air the station was only able to broadcast from 4pm Fridays to 11pm Sundays. However in July 1998 Heritage FM was granted a license to broadcast 24 hours a day.
Throughout 1998 more and more locally produced programs were added to the program schedule. In 1999 the station applied for and received a grant to purchase new studio equipment, and this was installed into a new larger studio during early 2000.
In 2002 the station and our volunteers needed more room to continue to grow and we moved to the current studios in Mills Road, Gosnells. Another change was to come in mid-2002, when the station was told to change to the current 107.3FM frequency.
Special mention must be made of some people for their hard work and tireless dedication to the station in our early years – they include, Spike Fokkema, Martin Jansen, Henry Zelones, Anne and Henk Heuvink, Jane Gerick, Susan Iwanyk, Ryan Honschooten, Brett Tizard, Rosalie Powers, Phil Youd, Fiona Williams, Eric Hart, Neil Haring, Daniel Ennis and many others.
We need to thank the Local Governments who came under the tourist banner of “Heritage Country” from where we took our name. We would like to encourage anyone who was involved in establishing the station and has a story to tell to contact us so we can add your name and information to our information.
We are currently working on adding a podcasting studio which could be used by the station and local community groups to produce content.
Photographs of events and copies of news clippings and memorabilia would be greatly appreciated. To be continued … If you would like to get involved in the exciting and ongoing future of 107.3 HFM please contact the station via email to [email protected].
Below are some photos from our history.
