What's New
BY RadioToday Network June 13, 2026
What's New March 18, 2024
Hello old friend: Radio revival as Geelong’s 3GL gets ready for relaunch
Reporter
It was home to big radio names like Gene Fisk, Don Lunn, Denis Scanlan, Gary Newton, Tim Hind, Rod Poynter, Ric Ditchburn and Don Crawford.
It’s the station that gave Happy Hammond his start in TV back in the 1940s.
Now, everything old is new again, and – thanks to the team at Geelong Broadcasters – 3GL is set to be officially relaunched on April 1st.
As Geelong Broadcasters General Manager Rachel Patterson tells Radio Today, 3GL is on air as we speak, running at reduced power on 1341.
“We still have a fair bit of engineering work to do to bring the site up to standard, including erecting a new antenna mast,” she says.
“We are also live on a handful of narrowcast FM frequencies from Wyndham to Colac, Queenscliff and Apollo Bay.”
3GL first went to air in 1930 and though based in Geelong, its signal could be heard across most of the Melbourne metropolitan area.
The 3GL call sign remained up until 1990, when the station underwent a conversion to FM and became K rock.
That spelt the end for the 1341 AM licence.
Subsequently, a new narrowcast licence with that frequency was auctioned by ACMA.
Geelong Broadcasters was the successful bidder.
Patterson says “The frequency was leased out to Chinese Broadcasters at a site owned and managed by third parties. Ultimately, this venture failed.”
Geelong Broadcasters acquired what remained of the transmission equipment and entered a new lease for the land.
Patterson says “In getting the transmission site working again, the search for a new narrowcast format began and our Chief Engineer Dean Gray joked about temporarily resurrecting 3GL on 1341, which piqued the station’s interest.”
“We had also been running a nostalgia format on some low powered narrowcast FM transmitters called West Coast Oldies.”
Whilst local businesses loved the concept of West Coast Oldies, they weren’t exactly sold on the name.
“When Dean suggested switching our heritage brand 3GL back on air, we loved it,” says Patterson. “So much so, we decided to re-launch the 3GL brand on both AM and FM frequencies.”
The official station format and imaging is currently being curated.
Listeners who tune in right now will hear a mix of 50s, 60s and early 70s music, with original imaging.
Patterson says so far, the feedback’s been great.
“We turned the 1341 transmitter back on in December around 3pm in the afternoon and by 5pm, Facebook had lit up with hundreds of comments and likes.”
Patterson says the person who runs the Facebook page called 3GL On The West Coast called Geelong Broadcasters’ reception the next day to say he’d been inundated with messages.
Patterson says they’ve also had calls from the former GM and a few of the announcers, two of whom have created a podcast called ‘Remembering 3GL,’ which launches March 28th.
“All in all, we think 3GL is being fairly well received.”
The revival of 3GL has certainly been music to the ears of Denis Scanlan, who posted to social media, saying “Thank you Grant Broadcasting for bringing back 3GL.”
“I hear they’re picking up a lot of listeners and it’s great to hear that 3GL is being run by professional radio people who love radio.”
“My daughter told me she picked them up the other day by accident and thought they sounded great.”
“It’s like a beloved friend came back to life.”
*Photos: 3GL On The West Coast Facebook page
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 12, 2026
Gd luck
Great work guys… But if this is really a HPON license….
What GREAT news. I was involved as a sports commentator from 1968 until 3GL went FM. Great memories of mentors like Mr. Reg Gray and then Terry Taylor – among a host of top broadcasters and technical staff – Jack Matthews, John McConnell and Eric Forsyth just to mention a few. My first involvement with 3GL goes back to the 50’s when we did Sunday School of the Air. Would love to become reinvolved and present top programs of true local Geelong interest.
Accidentially found 3GL Am loving the music . the music I love to listen to.
Woo bloody hoo !! This is the best news, best station, best music ever!
I am soooo happy to hear 3GL radio again. Their music is the best across all bands of radio.I listen to it everyday for the majority of the day and love singing along. I hope nothing changes and it continues for a long time into the future. Well done to whoever brought it back. With thanks Sue Stephens
Always listened to 3GL especially the footy broadcast.
Returning from 6 yrs O/S in 1983 I was shocked to hear Peter Walsh rubbishing the mighty CATS and vowed not to listen to him anymore.
Moved to Hobart in 1985 only to learn Peter had moved there as well to work for the ABC and was our neighbour for a short time. Our families became friends!!!
Love the music. Have it on every day. Sometimes early hours of the morning I have the ear phones on and listen to the music. I find the songs that are playing are very repetitive. I hear Slim Dusty’s pub with no beer constantly. There are so many better songs from the 60’s- 70’s that are not being played. Day time is great. How about playing songs likeHold me Kiss me thrill me, Lost in the fifties,Sillouttes and many other goodies from the 60’s also I’ve noticed you play a lot of Rock/Roll. Avid listener.
Fantastic music that can never be replaced good on ya
Loving the current format as a listener pre knock. Keep up the good work and the great music.
Just found 3GL, purely by accident. But I love it. I can just get it in my car in Pakenham and am looking for it in an app or on line so I can listen on my phone. But keep it up, I’m loving the music and format. Thanks. Peter.
The music played on 3GL is great,
A good differential to the FM radio music list .
Sad that most radios of today have dropped-off the AM frequency register, & 3GL will have a battle to attract lots of new listeners, but the format will win in the end.
A great return of an old friend .
Good range of music – please don’t become repetitive like other commercial stations and more 50s rock n roll & less 1970s would be great – also more Aussie 60s
Would love to be able to listen to 1341 on my mobile phone.
Hello,
Brilliant work! This station is the best , songs of yesteryear never die.
Bit how can I listen via my phone, is there an app?
Cheers,
Sophie
Hi 3GL, your audio stops intermittently, 15 seconds to several minutes, for a ~ 1 – 2 second break.
Otherwise good radio.
Regards
John
Hi 3GL, The audio now has no breaks, will check if it is something my end.
Rock on!
Regards
John
Hi ,I am an ex geelong resident for many years ,having moved to Tasmania would like to get the broadcast online ,can you help have tried several avenues. Thanks arthur dewater.
Have just moved into Tarneit and discovered 3GL, WHAT a pleasant radio station to listen to.We will keep it on our dial…
What a great station, I have it on all the time. This music lasts forever and for most ages, current stations play the current hits but they all disappear in a very short time and they mostly can’t really sing so have to add on all that techno and echo equipment to get anywhere, thanks 3gl
What a fantastic radio station, live in Adelaide, drove to Melbourne for the weekend, stumbled over the station, great great great , listened all the way back to Horsham, can’t wait till we can stream it. Nigel
Welcome back 3GL! Used to listen to you decades ago as a teenager and remember well what a great station this was. However as I live in Ballarat which is about 20klm past where the broadcast signal fades out, do you intend to stream the station on the internet as I would greatly desire to become a full time listener again! Courageous venture to restart a famous old AM broadcaster – I so hope it works out for you as an encouragement to others who deserted the long range option decades ago!
Hi there it’s great to hear 3gl again. I was camping in the north west of Tasmania last week and I was picking up 1341am on my little battery transitor radio during the afternoon. Would be a fulltime listener if it ever went online
Pick up 3GL Geelong in Gawler South Australia. Excellent signals in evening using 140 ft wire antenna 10 to 15ft of ground on a Sangean radio. Even hearing on Telescopic antenna tonight.
All top classic songs from a great musical era. Good luck for future broadcasting. Baz
Found your station and absolutely love it. Get my workout prancing around the kitchen while listening and trying to sing, makes my day. Would love to hear some Bee Gees
Great station 3gl, but is it being streamed online anywhere?
Love the revival – anywhere on the internet where I can stream the program?
Maybe a bit of a late reaction, but I recently discovered Radio 3GL on the 1341 kHz via a KiwiSDR from Hallam, Vic and listen and enjoy it to the fullest in the Netherlands on the other side of the world. Keep up the good work with your wonderful format, folks!
Who needs Vinyl,cassettes or CDs when we have 3gl.Coming in loud and clear in Dandenong.Many thanks for the great music but please don’t run the intro over the outro.
Best music. Very nostalgic, but best of all- very few adds. LOVE this station.