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	2002–2018	2018–present

Australian Broadcasting Commission

1932–1935

The corporation 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. The logo is an Australian map outline with bolts, local radio callsigns and plain text in the map, which reads "ABC".

1935–1947

1947–1965

This logo was also used on some stationery, publications, microphone badges and vehicles.

1965–1974

DESIGNER
Bill Kennard

TYPOGRAPHY
None

USAGE
Official

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.

1974–present

DESIGNER
Unknown

TYPOGRAPHY
None

USAGE
Official

ALSO KNOWN AS
Lissajous

On 19 October 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. This logo would serve as the ABC’s longest-running design with a lifespan of 47 years (as of 2021) and 29 on its first on-air run.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Commission changed their name to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, effective 1 July 1983. Although funded and owned by the government, the ABC remains editorially independent as ensured through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.

2002–2018

To celebrate its 70th anniversary on 1 July 2002, the ABC adopted a new logo, which was designed by (Annette) Harcus Design in 2001. This logo utilized a silver 3D texture but the crossover design was left intact. It would then be used across the ABC's media outlets but it is no longer in use by the corporation as of February 2018, with the exception of some of the ABC's radio station logos.

2018–present

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.