History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Herbert Edward Baker

Herbert Edward Baker Potted Biography Herbert Edward Baker Comprehensive Biography Herbert Edward Baker was briefly a prominent amateur operator and amateur broadcaster in the mid-1920s. His station callsign was 4HB (4=Queensland, H=Herbert, B=Baker) and he operated from Gowrie station near Charleville, Queensland. He and his brothers and brothers-in-law comprised Baker Bros. which firm held extensive rural holdings in western Queensland. Pressures of business, aeronautical interests and a love of world travel soon pushed amateur radio to the background, but he remains as one of Queensland's early amateur experimenters. A summary biography has not yet been prepared however the following resources have been assembled in preparation: Research - Herbert Edward Baker - Summary of research to date Transcriptions and Notes - Herbert Edward Baker - More than 20 transcriptions (Reads like a biography) Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Herbert Edward Baker - Nothing uploaded as yet, but many photos available in Trove and a few QSL cards in the NFSA QSL collection Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Herbert Edward Baker - Coming real soon now! Key internet links: Brief obituary for Baker Well-Known Grazier Dead. Mr. H. E. Baker, prominent Queensland grazier, world traveller, author, and collector of curios from the four corners of the earth, died at his recently purchased property, "World Ramblings," Toogoolawah, on November 7, aged 73. Born at Glenelg station in 1875, he and his two brothers formed the partnership of Baker Bros. Ltd., which, in 1913, acquired Gowrie (383 square miles), in the Charleville district; in 1919, Tongy (264 square miles) near Mitchell; Elmina (Charleville) was added in 1923, and Wainui (16,000 acres, near Bowenville). A member of the Royal Geographical Society, "H.E." took his first long trip abroad in 1932/33, covering Europe, (Start Photo Caption) Mr. BAKER. (End Photo Caption) the Near East and China, and brought home the beginning of his collection of beautifully carved boxes and chests, masks, porcelain, and delicate china. Then he wrote his first travel book, published under the title, "World Ramblings." In 1939 he visited Japan and returned with many items for his collection. The war prevented further travel until 1946, when he left again to visit the United States, Argentina, the Bahamas, and Cuba, thence to England. This trip yielded material for a second book (unfinished at his death), substantial additions to his collection, and a warning that he must take things more easily in the future. He purchased, in September, 1947, the property at Toogoolawah which, in reminiscent mood, he named "World Ramblings," and which housed his wonderful collection. Here he spent the last year of his life. His short, stocky figure, with greying hair and moustache, in an Assam silk suit and real Panama with snake-skin band, was well known to the Bush Brotherhood, whose work in the Charleville district he strongly supported. He never married being, so he said, "too fond of his freedom." He is survived by his brother, Mr. T. O. Baker, and two sisters, Mesdames A. Powell (Coolangatta) and F. Ryrie (Durodehama station, N.S.W.), his other brother and sister, Mr. R. A. Baker and Mrs. T. W. Smith (Boatman station, Charleville) having predeceased him.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97111564 Well-Known Grazier Dead Queensland Country Life 14, 18 Queensland, Australia 11 November 1948 7 May 2025 3 National Library of Australia References