ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR

Hours: daily, 10am-5pm; open until 9pm on Thursdays

Celebrate 40 years of Melbourne independent radio in the first-ever exhibition showcasing Triple R, Australia’s largest and most successful community station.

ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR explores the history, culture and character of this iconic station, whose programs continues to influence and inspire Melbourne’s independent music scene, and provide a vital voice for local community.

Discover the story of Triple R’s evolution from humble beginnings as an educational broadcaster at RMIT University, to a station with 440,000 listeners and its own digs in Brunswick.

This free exhibition gathers an eclectic array of materials from Triple R’s archive including signed gig posters, original artworks, rare photographs and Triple R t-shirts and merchandise.

ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR is presented in partnership with Triple R. 

Join us the Library's after-hours pop-up bar as we open up the Library, Mr Tulk and Readings with DJs, vinyl, drinks, food and exclusive after-hours access to the ON AIR exhibition. Entry is free.

• Fri 25 Nov, 7–10pm
• Fri 2 Dec, 7–10pm
• Fri 13 Jan 2017, 7–10pm
• Fri 20 Jan 2017, 7–10pm

No booking is required for our free 45-minute guided tours held at 12.30pm every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, except for public holidays. Please note: tours will not run between 16 December 2015 and 9 January 2016.

Dig through a curated selection of Triple R artwork, photos and and ephemera in our online gallery.

Watch this video of Triple R personalities engaging in a lively debate about counterfeit culture: is there anything authentic in music, art and culture anymore?

Join 'Eat it' presenter Cam Smith for Kick it to me, as he reminisces about his 30 years of broadcasting.

• Tuesday 6 December

Join 'Under the sun' presenter Jonathan Alley for My beating heart: a discussion about his experience at the station within a shifting landscape of media consumption.

• Thursday 1 December

Join presenter Fee B-Squared for Face for radio, as discusses the trials and tribulations of her time as a 'Breakfaster' at Triple R. 

• Wednesday 25 January at 2pm

Watch a video of this fascinating panel discussion about cutting-edge graphic design and advertising trends, that draws on material in the Library's advertising collections, including the Triple R archives. 

• Wednesday 14 December at 3pm

Go backstage with exhibition coordinator Angela Bailey and 3RRR project coordinator Philippa Overgaard as they trawl through the Triple R archive.

Read our blog for some background info on the exhibition.

Our audio-described tours describe the works in ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR in terms of their visual presentation – content, size, colour, artistic medium and the people, places and objects depicted – to bring the works alive for people with limited or no vision.

Call 03 8664 7099 or email [email protected] to book for the Monday 16 January tour. Please note that bookings close on 12 January. 

Come along to hear this talk from Systa BB, presenter of weekly program 'The good, the bad & the global'. Please note: this event has been cancelled.