the station originally began as 6ky, beginning broadcasting on 23 october 1941 on 1210am khz and would eventually end up at the frequency 1206 khz. the original building, at 17-19 james street, east perth, was the first building in western australia to be built specifically as a radio station. consisting of five studios and an auditorium, the station was then owned by the australian workers' union. on 1 june 1991, under then general manager peter perrin, 6ky became one of two perth radio stations to convert from the am to fm bands. the station became known upon conversion to fm as 6kyfm, and later as 94.5 kyfm, with the official call sign 6jky, the transition from am to fm was considered one of the most successful in australia. the perth conversion process was in fact the second round of auctions for that city as the first round was unsuccessful, leaving 96fm, the first and only commercial fm station in the city. the on-air identity was later shortened to 94.5fm under the management of well-known perth broadcaster gary roberts and then around 1997–1998 adopted the name mix 94.5. the official call sign is now 6mix.