On Air: 40 Years of 3RRR

Triple R is part of Melbourne's DNA. For the past 40 years, the much-loved community radio station has played a fundamental role in establishing Melbourne as one of the world's great music cities, fostering local bands and introducing listeners to sounds from all over the world. Not only do Triple R's weekly programs touch on even the most obscure musical genres, but also topics including the local arts scene (SmartArts), film (Film Buff's Forecast), science (Einstein A Go-Go) and LGBTIQA+ culture (Queer the Way). A number of the station's volunteer roadcasters have been on the air for decades, becoming local heroes in their own right.

This summer, the State Library of Victoria is celebrating Triple R's legacy with an exhibition titled On Air: 40 Years of 3RRR. Triple R has donated items from its archive including original artworks, rare photographs, posters, magazines, videos of live-to-air performances and more. 

"We are so excited to partner with the State Library on this exhibition," Dave Houchin, station manager of Triple R, says. "It’s a fantastic way to celebrate the work of Triple R’s volunteer broadcasters over the past 40 years and the many achievements that have been made possible due to the hard work of volunteers and staff, and the amazing support of Triple R subscribers."

The community radio station, which runs on a mix of full-time staff and volunteers, grew from an educational broadcaster at RMIT University's city campus to a station with 440,000 listeners tuning in every week. On Air: 40 years of 3RRR showcases Triple R memorabilia and is also hosting a free public program of talks, debates, and an after hours pop-up bar, as well as tours with exhibition curator Angela Bailey.