Stranded; celebrating 50 years of 4ZZZ

State Library celebrated 4ZZZ’s 50th anniversary in December 2025 with a series of Conversations, workshops, White Gloves showcase and digital exhibition of memorabilia. We're still celebrating on level 4 at the library until late April with an Extraordinary Story that traces the impact of 4ZZZ and Brisbane’s DIY creative scene.

The program explored Brisbane’s independent music, arts and broadcasting culture while aiming to reflect the democratic ethos of 4ZZZ itself by prioritising community participation, diverse perspectives and open cultural exchange.

Stranded Conversations

During the first week of December the Edge held three Conversations panel discussions programmed in collaboration with 4ZZZ:

Conversation 1: Independent media explored the role of democratic media and community broadcasting in Queensland throughout the last 50 years, including the birth of 4ZZZ. Panellists included Stephen Stockwell, Stefan Armbruster, Dan Rennie and the session was moderated by Dr Heather Anderson.

Conversation 2: Music and culture discussed subculture trends through the last 50 years of Queensland. From the music, the fashion, and the art through to technology advancements, including vinyl records to Spotify playlists. Panellists included Thea Basiliou, Luke Henery, Patience Hodgson, Blair Martin and the session was moderated by Michelle Brown.

Conversation 3: Iconic spaces unpacked the stories behind Brisbane’s legendary venues and community spaces. From the 4ZZZ building and history at UQ, White Chairs, Cloudland, Festival Hall, The Roxy/Arena, The Zoo, Rics, DIY venues and beyond. Panellists included David Darling, Trina Massey, Jane Grigg, Kellie Lloyd and the session was moderated by Maggie Collins.

The sessions used a digital platform that allowed attendees to submit their own questions and upvote those posted by others, helping to highlight the topics of greatest interest to the group. This real‑time feedback shaped the direction of each Conversation and ensured that moderators addressed the points participants most wanted to explore.

The Edge Screens Digital Showcase

Throughout December and January The Edge Screens showcased 4ZZZ memorabilia. The screens, located in the reception area of The Edge building, featured:

• Historical photographs by photographer Peter Fischmann, taken at the first 4ZZZ Market Day held at the University of Queensland 1982, alongside other photographs from significant events in 4ZZZ's past
• A collection of 4ZZZ branding, promotion and merchandise spanning decades of the station's operation
• Contemporary photographs highlighting the more recent history of the station as well as the programs, people and places that shaped it into its current form.

The images displayed on the screens were curated from a variety of sources including historical images from the State Library collections, 4ZZZ's archives, the Zed Folk group on Facebook and more. Other images featured on the screens include graphic art by Matt Mawson, Jack Tierney, Phoebe Paradise, with photos by Greg Perry, David Lennon, Robert Broeders, Andrew Bartlett, Michelle Brown, Ilana Tulloch and many many more.

Make your own Merch Workshops

Two workshops were held in conjunction with the program guiding participants through the process of customising designs using specialised software available at The Edge's Digital Media Lab. Participants then used a sublimation printer and heat press to create their own t-shirt and tote bag momentos.

While most participants elected to customise pre-made designs drawn from the 4ZZZ archives, others chose to create completely original artworks. Some of the attendees even used the workshop as an opportunity to create t-shirts and tote bags to promote their friends' bands.

By the end of each session, each participant walked away with at least two personalised pieces that captured each maker's own personality and creative flair.

White Gloves Experience

To mark the historic milestone of 50 years of 4ZZZ, a White Gloves Experience offered a hands-on exploration of curated materials from State Library’s collections. Participants were able to handle rarely seen items from the 4ZZZ collection.

Memorabilia from State Library's 4ZZZ collection are still on display at the Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery on Level 4 of the State Library of Queensland as part of the Extraordinary Stories exhibit until late April.

Overall, the Stranded 4ZZZ program strengthened relationships with Brisbane’s creative community, reinforced State Library’s role as a convenor of contemporary cultural conversation and demonstrated strong ongoing appetite for arts programming that foregrounds participation, representation and community voice. The series contributed to the visibility of local creative practice while supporting State Library’s broader objectives around access, inclusion, cultural storytelling and lifelong learning.