Alive 90.5 is a volunteer run organisation and is funded through listener support, grants and limited commercial sponsorship.

In 1988, Baulkham Hills Shire Council allocated Building 9 in the Balcombe Heights Estate to the organisation, the station has remained in this location since.

In October 1992, the organisation was granted a community radio licence and on 12 December 1992 begun broadcasting on 90.5 FM.

There are two internet streams: 128 kbit/s Joint Sterero MP3 and 64 kbit/s stereo AAC, to support a variety of listening client programs.

In late 2017, Alive 90.5 updated their logo and broadcast area to include the newly formed Cumberland Council.

[5] The station's current programs cover a wide range of music styles including adult contemporary, jazz, country and easy listening.

[21][22] In 2021 Darryn Capes-Davis was a finalist in the CBAA Community Radio Volunteer of the Year - People's Choice Award.

[24] Tim Wong See was a former presenter and board member with Alive 90.5[25] before moving to Brisbane to work as an announcer on Nova 106.9.

The program moved to SWR Triple 9 in 2018[30] to accommodate MJ's study schedule at the Australian Film Television Radio School.

[31] Both continued as members of Alive 90.5 and Big Stu briefly presented a spin-off program in the original time slot called Country Universe.

Following Canberra, MJ moved to Wollongong's 96.5 Wave FM where he is currently the Workday Announcer & Operations Manager.

[34] At Alive 90.5, MJ coordinated the move to new playout software including training presenters and programming requirements.