2BE (Sydney)
2BE was Sydney's and Australia's first officially recognised commercial radio station, commencing broadcasting on 7 November 1924. It broadcast on the medium wave band at 870 kHz, with a power of 100 watts.
Background
The station was owned and operated by the Burgin Electric Company, owned by Rowley Burgin, and 2BE was managed by Oswald Francis Mingay.2BE held a Radio Dance Night on 23 December 1925, in aid of cancer research. On 3 March 1927 the station broadcast from the Radio and Electrical Exhibition at the Sydney Town Hall.
In 1927, 2BE was off the air for a few months on account of a fire.
The station only broadcast on two days per week, for at least the first two years. It closed exactly five years after opening, on 6 November 1929.
After Closure
On 30 November 1937, the 2BE call-sign was re-allocated to 2BE Bega, New South Wales, which now broadcasts as 2EC.2BE's 870 kHz wavelength was allocated to another Sydney station, 2GB.