History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Marcius John Alexander Oliver

Marcius John Alexander Oliver
Marcius John Alexander "Marcus" Oliver was a well known early wireless experimenter in the 1920s with his amateur station 2MO. He owned, with a brother, a garage business in Gunnedah and in those days there was often synergy between garages and wireless. His younger brother Dalley George Tryon Oliver was the first to take an interest in wireless and was experimenting as early as 1924, but Marcus got the bug soon after. Marcus passed his Amateur Operator's Proficiency Certificate and was allocated callsign 2MO endorsed for transmitting. For several years in the late 1920s, Marcus transmitted broadcast programmes using his amateur station for the benefit of local listeners-in, in the absence of any nearby transmissions. In 1930 Marcus was awarded a "B"class (commercial) licence for a broadcast station at Gunnedah and adopted his amateur callsign 2MO for the station. It was the height of the great depression and lacking funds he formed a partnership with Donald Brader Knock (amateur callsign 2NO) to establish the service. The partnership only lasted 6 months and thereafter he carried on the broadcast station on his own account until his retirement to Port Macquarie in 1939, selling his interest in the station. Pending development of a comprehensive biography reference can be made to the following obituary:

Detailed obituary for Marcus Oliver "OBITUARY. MR. M. J. A. OLIVER. As briefly mentioned last issue, the death occurred in the H. D. Hospital on Wednesday morning, January 16, of Marcius John Alexander Oliver, at the age of 70 years. His sudden death came as a great shock to his sorrowing wife and sons. Taken to hospital only the Sunday previous to his death, the late Mr. Oliver was suffering from a gastric complaint, which so weakened his constitution as to cause a collapse of the lungs and heart. Born in Sydney in 1875, deceased was a son of the late Mr. Justice Oliver, M.A. and the late Mrs. Oliver. He first ventured out on his own in a garage business at Gunnedah, which he conducted for several years. He pioneered radio in the west and north west of New South Wales, and formed the radio station, 2MO, Gunnedah, in 1930. After interesting himself in this direction for several years, he retired in 1939, when he and Mrs. Oliver came to Port Macquarie to reside. A cosy cottage was built in Lord Street, and Mrs. Oliver had several cabins erected on their property, and these she has since conducted. The late Mr. Oliver interested himself in engineering hobbies, and evidence of his ability in this direction can be seen in and around the home. Knotty problems and difficult jobs were often referred to him and he took great pleasure in doing a favour to the many who took engine and machinery troubles to him. Mr. Oliver was a member of the Volunter Air Observers' Corp of Port Macquarie, and rendered great service at the spotting post during the war. It was in 1913, at St. James', King Street, Sydney, that he married Miss Lucy Maria Darlington, and they had two sons. The elder boy, Alexander, is at Gunnedah, whilst Vivian Lucas, recently discharged from the army after several years service, came here a short time ago, and, with his wife, will continue to conduct the cabins. The late Mr. Oliver loved the river and he and Mrs. Oliver put in many pleasant hours fishing and cruising about with their outboard motor. Planned for their retirement from the cabins, a home is half built for them at the foot of Clarence Street, where Mrs. Oliver will reside when it is completed. Canon Gerry conducted a short service in the Church of St. Thomas on Thursday, following which the funeral moved to the Church of England portion of the Port Macquarie cemetery, Mr. F. V. Hayward being the undertaker."

The following resources have been assembled in preparation for a comprehensive biography:


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