Aussie Star Trek fan site marks 20th anniversary

An Australian fan website dedicated to Star Trek has ceebrated its 20th anniversary with an nearly four hour online celebration of science fiction.

Queensland-based TrekZone.org was founded in 2003 by Star Trek fan Matt Miller, tasked with designing a high school IT project about something he loved.

“It was all about HTML and CSS,” he recalls. “Trekzone then grew to a simple group of pages on Geocities, going by the name of Starbase 211. On July 10 2003 TREKZONE.org was born, drifting between temporary pages and the same group of standby pages, with no real direction.

“I’m reminded of countless hours on the TrekUnited Australia forum. StarfleetMom, Kirok of L’Stok, so many others. Ideas bandied around there would go on to formulate Trekzone…

“Fast forward to 2004 and the beginning of my career in Australian television. Over the next three years I would learn the various tools of the trade, especially how to make a quality product with a very small budget.”

The site evolved to video podcasting, music clip show “Countdown 31”,  live breakfast show Wake Up! WA, some of which was assisted by community broadcaster Access 31.

By 2018 Star Trek fan film Once More With Feeling, was produced with Aaron Vanderkley as assistant director and Liam Kyle as a DoP and “semi-polished visual effects” by Samuel Cockings.

“It’s been well received, with over twenty eight thousand views in five years. 2019 saw the beginning of Talkin’ Science – a way of expanding the podcast offering, and continuing the mission of following my passion.

2021 saw 350 podcasts with Trekzone Media becoming a full time business, with Miller getting to know the key players in the Australian Space Industry, developing professional relationships and attending Australian first rocket launch attempts.

“In 2022 I also launched Fan Film Update and continued SciFi News. Talkin’ Science moved on from Dr Brad co-hosting and kept an eye on the latest astronomical findings. And, of course, the very first Trekzone Fan Film Awards that managed to generate a bit of a buzz,” he said.

This year has included eight weeks on the road with a virtual set, the 2023 Trekzone Fan Film Awards.

Congrats, Matt & team!

You can check out the 20th Anniversary video here.