Just where did Bruce Gyngell say “Welcome to Television?”

“Good evening and welcome to television.”

With those words Bruce Gyngell entered the history books as the first person to appear on television in Australia.

TCN9’s opening night on 16th September 1956 is widely documented, not just for its pioneering milestone, but for the ensuing conjecture around what transpired.

St. David’s Hall in Surry Hills also played a part in Sir Frank Packer’s TV launch -but was Gyngell at the hall or at the Willoughby site in a basement?

Pat Condon was audio engineer in Master Control at TCN9 on the opening night. Now 86 years old, he recalled the event to TV Tonight.

“I joined Channel Nine in about July 1956, and the opening was September 16,” he said.

“Amongst the things I had to do on opening night was set up the mike in the in the theatrette at Channel Nine, which was the the mike that Bruce used for the opening introduction.”

The theatrette was located behind the original reception, situated near the old loading dock.

“It was off the lobby, and it was the theatre connected to the film department. Of course, all of this was pre-videotape. All the commercials and shows were on 16 mm. film.”

After Gyngell’s welcoming the broadcast crossed to live musical performances in Surry Hills because the studios were not ready.

“We crossed to St. David’s Hall, but I’m not sure what the first live show was. But Bruce certainly was not at St. David’s Hall.

“Bruce was not quite the first person on television – he was the first visual live, but John Godson was the voice-over in the booth in the booth, who identified the station.”

1956 (l) and 1957 (r) Photo: NFSA

But there were also technical hiccups on the opening night, with Bruce Gyngell recreating the scene in 1957, seen in a 1966 special in, Ten Years of Television or We’re Getting Sentimental Over Us. This has led to some differences in archival photos.

Nine’s longest-serving employee, Chief Classification Officer, Richard Lyle recently escorted former employees on a final tour of the Willoughby site before it undergoes redevelopment.

Former employees (+1 family member) visit TCN9. Pat Condon is 3rd from left.

After his audio duties, Pat Condon became a program co-ordinator, floor manager, director, producer and creative director for TCN9 before a successful career as a producer / promoter in the performing arts.

Updated.