Australian Broadcasting Corporation

This article is about the Australian public broadcaster. For its flagship television channel, see ABC TV (Australia).

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), founded in 1929, is Australia’s national broadcaster. It is funded by Australian taxpayers but specifically independent of Government and politics in the Commonwealth. The ABC plays a leading role in journalistic independence and is fundamental in the history of broadcasting in Australia.

This page only shows primary logo variants.

For other related logos and images, see:

Contents

1932–1935	1935–1947	1947–1965	1965–1974	1974–present	2002–2019	2018–present

Australian Broadcasting Commission

1932–1935

The ABC was founded on 1 July 1932 as the Australian Broadcasting Commission. This was the first logo to be seen on some stationery, publications, microphone badges and vehicles, as well as cricket books until at least 1935.

1935–1947

1947–1965

1965–1974

Designer:

Bill Kennard

Typography:

None

Also known as:

Lissajous

In 1965, ABC graphics designer, Bill Kennard, who had been experimenting with telerecording of the cathode ray oscilloscope displays, submitted a design which was part of the waveform from an oscilloscope. The letters A-B-C were added to the design and it was adopted as the ABC's official logo. Kennard was presented with £25 for his design.

Australian Broadcasting Commission/Corporation

1974–present

Designer:

Unknown

Typography:

None

Also known as:

Lissajous

Introduced in late 1974, the Lissajous curve design experienced its first facelift with the line thickened to allow for colour to be used. It would also be treated to the ‘over and under’ effect, showing the crossover of the line in the design.

On 1 July 1983, the Australian Broadcasting Commission changed their name to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation while keeping the 1974 logo. As of 2002, this logo was phased out in favour of the next one, but it was revived just 16 years later.

As of 2021, this logo would serve as the ABC’s long-running design with a lifespan of 47 years.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

2002–2019

Designer:

Harcus Design

Typography:

None

Also known as:

Lissajous

On 1 July 2002, with the celebration of its 70th anniversary, the ABC adopted a new logo across all of its media outlets.

This logo utilized a silver 3D texture with the crossover design being left intact and is flanked with the ABC type to accompany it. Although it is no longer in use by the corporation as of 2018, it was still used on some of the ABC's radio station logos until mid-2019. It is still used on the ABC Children website. This logo was designed by Harcus Design.

2018–present

Designer:

Unknown

Typography:

ABC Sans

Also known as:

Lissajous

Following the on-air revival of the plain 1974 logo in 2014, the ABC reinstated the classic symbol in 2018 while using a new custom corporate font, ABC Sans, that was introduced by ABC News in 2017. The change comes with a press release that the ABC released on 12 February announcing a new brand positioning under its tagline, Yours.