Has it really been 90 years since local radio station 2DU first started broadcasting? Yes!

From small beginnings in the middle of the Great Depression last century, the broadcaster grew along with the Dubbo community and celebrated its 90th anniversary early last month.

On Friday, July 24, the 2DU/Zoo FM team delivered an outside broadcast from the DMC Meat Centre and Farmers Bakehouse, celebrating its anniversary and connecting with listeners, advertisers and supporters.

The iconic local radio station began broadcasting on Friday, July 3, 1936, from a building in Tamworth Street, Dubbo, on what is the current site of the shopping centre at the corner of Sterling Street.

In 1938 the studios moved to Macquarie St above the Union Bank, and during the Second World War experienced difficulties due to “censorship, lack of trained staff and war-rationing,” a potted history of the station provided to Dubbo Photo News revealed.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, the broadcast frequency changed twice, and in 1953 2DU moved to another spot in Macquarie St – going under in the terrible floods that decade – before moving to its present location in Carrington Avenue in 1979.

In May 1990, the station began broadcasting 24 hours per day and in 1997 established its supplementary station ZOO FM.

An exhibition celebrating the station’s contribution to the community featured at the Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC) for five months this year, wrapping up last weekend.

“As we stand on the threshold of an emerging digital landscape, community radio stations like 2DU remain relevant today, continuing to foster our sense of local community and identity,” the WPCC said of the exhibition “2DU: At Your Service For 90 Years”.

Happy anniversary, 2DU!