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 Hunter Valley.

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.

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).

For the first 29 years of its ownership, the station was under the management of Jim Storey, with his wife Twink acting as program director and on-air personality.

Presenters during this time included Harry Randall, Tom Delaney, Art Ryan, Haff Enegg, Mal Lamonte, John Hill, Allan McGirvan, Mike Jeffries, Malcolm Elliott, Keith Haerris, Graeme Gilbert, Don Mayo, Rob Maynard and Cliff Musgrave.

The coverage of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake by the news team, led by Tony Briscoe, won the station a National Radio Award.

The 1990s saw 2HD confirm its place as the top-rating station in Newcastle, led by the breakfast team of David Collins and Tanya Wilks, who notched up over eight consecutive years of survey wins, supported by Geoff Jay and Richard King.

Until 2006, the station broadcast coverage of Newcastle Knights National Rugby League (NRL) games, then syndicated from the Macquarie Radio Network.

However, a dispute between BOG, the Macquarie Radio Network and the NRL saw both the Continuous Call Team and the coverage of Knights games go to rival 102.9 KOFM.