Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) 50 Years Commemorative Box.

Description

Plastic box released to commemorate 50 years of the AWA.  1913 to 1963.  The box has a plastic divide down the centre, creating two compartments within.  Slight scuffing to base from vintage wear, but no damage.

The AWA commenced operations in 1909 as the Australasian Wireless Limited (AWL), a Telefunken wireless agent.  The Marconi Company sued the Australian Government in 1912 for infringing their patent and the Government decided in future to use circuits designed by John Balsillie.  On 11th July 1913 a new company was formed – the Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd (AWA).

The first radio broadcast from the United Kingdom to Australia was received in 1918 by AWA with then Prime Minister of Australia, Billy Hughes, praising te troops he had just inspected on the western front.  In 1930 AWA transmitted the first newsreel pictures from Sydney to London.  Also in 1930 the Empire radiotelephone service commenced and an Aviation Division operated avionics servicing Australia and New Guinea, with a large workshop in Victoria.

In 1922 the Australian Government had granted AWA exclusive rights to operate the Coastal Radio Service (CRS) network of maritime radio stations that eventually included stations in New Guinea which were hurriedly installed when Japan entered WWII.  The Marine division continued to wholesale communications and radar equipment to the Australian maritime and leisure boating market into the mid 1980’s.

During WWII the AWA trained military personnel in signals and communications.  Their headquarters building at 45-47 York Street, Sydney was completed in 1939 becoming an instant landmark with its art deco style and large white radio tower on top (in the shape of the Eiffel Tower) and was the tallest building in Australia until 1958.  It remained the AWA HQ until the 1990’s.

AWA Engineers had lots of communications and electronic projects on the go.  In 1954 they provided the first experimental TV broadcast in Australia during Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Australian Tour and have worked closely with Australian Military Defence developing electronics for anti submarine weapons, rocket drones sonobuoys, evolved sea sparrow missiles, agile gliding bombs and radar warning receivers.

It continues as an independent company today with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth & Newcastle.  It has a national network of more than 700 service agents.  In 2023 AWA commemorated 110 years of service and business.