2HD is an Australian radio station in New South Wales. Owned and operated as part of the Super Radio Network of stations, it currently broadcasts a news talk and classic hits format to Newcastle, New South Wales and the surrounding Hunter region. First broadcast on 27 January 1925, it was established by founder Harry Douglas - from which the station derives its name - and is based in studios in Sandgate alongside sister station New FM. 2HD is Australia's second oldest existing radio station, first going to air just hours after Sydney's 2UE. History 1925-1945 2HD began broadcasting on 27 January 1925, a day after Sydney's 2UE began operations. The station's call sign was the initials of the founder, Hugh Alexander McKay Douglas (known as Harry), not "Hunter District" as is commonly believed. Douglas was a man ahead of his time. He had been a keen amateur radio enthusiast for some years prior to 1925, and an alderman on the Newcastle City Council from 1919 to 1922. He was also the first person to own a sulky and car tyre retreading business in Newcastle, as well as having the first petrol station in Newcastle with a bowser. The radio station was originally situated in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton, but soon after moved to the corner of Darby and King Streets (Douglas's tyre business address). Douglas sold the station to William Johnston in 1928, who sold the station to the "Airsales Broadcasting Company" in 1930. Airsales owned the company for 10 years, and was responsible for the move to its landmark studio building in Sandgate, which was the home of 2HD for nearly 50 years. Although the building is now very different, the middle section is still the 1931 building. Under controversial circumstances during World War II, 2HD was closed in 1941, under the National Security Regulations. At the time, the station was owned by the Jehovah's Witnesses and around 25 staff were employed. Stories circulated that the owners were sending covert messages to enemy agents, based on the names and times of the music being played. 2HD remained silent until near the end of the war, when the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Council of New South Wales bought the station, resuming transmissions on 15 January 1945. One of 2HD's notable personalities in the 1930s was "Uncle" Rex Sinclair, who continued to perform on local radio and stage