More than a century ago, an executive at then Westralian Farmers Co-operative, devised an idea to develop a radio station with the intention of lessening isolation for people in remote areas.

Wesfarmers bid for the first commercial radio licence in Perth and on 4 June 1924 with the first broadcast, 6WF was born. 

Any staff member who could play an instrument – and many who couldn’t – were drafted into the Westralian Farmers Band. On the night of the first programming, several hundred people assembled in the third-floor concert hall to see Premier Philip Collier perform the opening ceremony.

Over time, it became impossible for the radio station to pay its way – there was no foolproof way to collect the subscription fee, advertising revenue was minimal, and artists had to be paid. Wesfarmers sold 6WF to the Commonwealth government in 1928, which made it part of the ABC network.

In Perth in June 2024, Wesfarmers Chairman Michael Chaney joined ABC Perth Radio to commemorate the milestone. And whilst the station is now known as ABC Perth, Mr Chaney commented that “as far as we’re concerned in the company, it’ll always be 6WF”.